When schools closed during last week’s big snowstorm some parents might have been forgiven for wishing the West Salem Boys & Girls Club would remain open during school cancellations so they could get their children out of the house for a few hours.

Unfortunately, club policy does not allow for that kind of parental relief.

“Our policy is the same at all Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Deana Protz, director of the West Salem Boys & Girls Club. “If the weather is too cold or snowy for kids to be going to school, we don’t want parents trying to drive their kids here. We’d rather know that the kids are safe at home.

“That goes for our staff, too,” Protz added. “Most of them live in La Crosse, and we don’t want them risking their lives trying to make it in.”

The policy holds true whether the entire school day is cancelled or if students are released a few hours early. If the club were too open up after an early release at noon, for example, that would mean Boys & Girls Club staff would have to do their best to make it to the facility on short notice and under adverse driving conditions.

“We don’t want that,” Protz said.