WORCESTER, Mass. - Schools across central and western Massachusetts, including Worcester, had a snow day Monday.

It was Worcester Superintendent Rachel Monárrez’s first time calling for a snow day after taking over the job this past summer. She said a lot that goes into the decision.

Ultimately, it was the timing of the storm happening at school dismissal which influenced her call, because she was worried about road safety and getting students home.

"It is a little bit of a crystal ball, but it is about safety” said Monárrez. “It’s always about safety. Mostly it’s the safety of people on the road. Children on school buses as well as the other half of our children who many of them walk home. So that's the other half of it."

In total, dozens of schools across Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester Counties closed on Monday.