School could be canceled for the remainder of this week, depending on whether the next storm hits and whether the sun can melt some accumulated snow so children can make it safely to their bus stops.

Schools across the region are closed today and at least one local school leader said school could be canceled for the rest of the week.

Dr. Charles Machesky, Uniontown Area School District superintendent, said he can foresee school not being held for the remainder of the week, yet the district is taking it day by day.

Some local school officials are calling the conditions the worst they have seen.

Machesky said bus companies have reported that children cannot make it to their bus stops.

"The highway people are doing the best they can. It's not the amount of snow. It's the inability of the kids to get to the bus stops," Machesky said.

"The students' safety is first and foremost," he added. "We're taking it day by day."

Before making a decision on whether to delay or cancel school, Machesky said the district consults Jim Means, Wharton Township supervisor, on weather conditions in the mountain area and the district's bus contractors.

"This is the worst I ever saw," Machesky said.

The Uniontown Area School Board's regular work session was canceled Monday and rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15. The regular meeting will be held as scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16.

Dr. Philip Savini, superintendent of the Brownsville Area School District, said input from the township supervisors and the bus company is garnered before making a decision on whether or not to have school.

He said the snowstorm, predicted to bring over a foot of snow to the area on Tuesday and into Wednesday, will factor into whether or not to have school. Brownsville is closed today as crews continue to deal with ice and snow and power companies repair downed wires to restore electricity to homes.

The school board's finance and budget and buildings and grounds meetings scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday could be canceled depending on the weather, Savini said.

California University of Pennsylvania has canceled classes for the rest of the week with reports of off-campus housing being without power, while Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, is open today. Future announcements will be made regarding closings or delays for the remainder of the week.

Susan Brimo-Cox, spokes-woman for Penn State Fayette, said the day-to-day decision on whether to hold classes is made by Paula Congelio, the campus' director of business and finance, in consultation with Dr. Emmanuel Osagie, Penn State Fayette chancellor, based on weather predictions and the severity of weather expected.

Once the decision is made, the information is then sent to Penn State students and faculty via text messaging. As of November, 831 Penn State students were subscribed to the text messaging system, she said.

Mike Rozgony, transportation director for the Laurel Highlands School District, said with another eight to 12 inches of snow predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday, school being closed or delayed from Wednesday on is a possibility.

"The weather has been really tough on us," Rozgony said.

He said he and Dr. Gary Brain, superintendent of the school district, surveyed conditions in the district and saw downed electrical wires and piles of snow blocking school bus stops and bus turn around locations. Buses traveling on secondary roads yet clear of snow or slush also presented a safety concern, he said.

"Safety is first and that's the main reason" school was closed today, said Rozgony.

"It's a day-by-day decision," Rozgony said, noting that district officials work closely with the North and South Union township supervisors. "(The supervisors) are doing the best they can to treat the area."

Students not receiving updates on Laurel Highlands School District delays or closings via text messaging can register to do so on the Web sites of Pittsburgh television stations WPXI Channel 11 or WTAE Channel 4. Updates are also posted on the district's Web site at www.lhsd.org.