Despite more inclement weather predicted for later this week, Kansas University officials say they intend to maintain their final-exam schedule.

Jill Jess, a university spokeswoman, said any decision to close the campus will be made based on whether it is safe for people and buses to make their way onto campus.

She said that while the university has contingency plans in case inclement weather disrupts finals week, it was premature to discuss those plans.

She said every effort will be made to proceed with the exams as scheduled.

The weather didn’t prevent Jordan McIntire from making his 1:30 p.m. final exam Tuesday. He crossed Jayhawk Boulevard to Strong Hall with a light dusting of snow covering his brown jacket with more than five minutes to spare.

He said he drove to campus, parking off Alabama Street.

“Finding a parking spot was pretty tough,” he said. “Everybody’s driving through the snow trying to get as close as possible.”

Decisions to cancel classes at KU are made by the chancellor or the provost after 6 a.m., after consultation with the KU Office of Public Safety, Lawrence police, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the National Weather Service.

Not popular

The decision to hold school in Lawrence on Tuesday may not have been a popular one for students, but Superintendent Randy Weseman said it’s something that must be accepted.

“It’s winter, it’s going to snow, it’s going to be inconvenient,” Weseman said. “Slow down, adapt and persevere.”

Weseman said a crew of people reported to him before 6 a.m., just before the decision was made to hold school.

“We get up early, we drive the bus routes, we look at the parking lots, we examine the forecast,” Weseman said.

He said buses were able to maneuver their routes, and while the snow’s inconvenient, it’s doable.

“In general, everybody seems to be getting around,” said Weseman, who wouldn’t speculate on whether school would be canceled today or later this week.

About 1,000 students were absent from Lawrence public schools on Tuesday, a spokeswoman said.

Nine percent of the student body — or 998 students — didn’t attend school, “which isn’t unusual,” said Julie Boyle, spokeswoman.

Of the absences, 265 were excused because of illness, 444 were excused for other reasons, and 289 were unexcused because the student’s parent hasn’t yet called school.

Parents can excuse students for health and safety reasons, including inclement weather, though the district doesn’t categorize absences by the specific type of excuse, Boyle said.