Several schools in Illinois have made the decision to close, switch to e-learning days, or dismiss early in anticipation of an incoming winter storm. This storm is expected to bring significant amounts of snow to certain areas.
St. Joseph Catholic School in Manhattan, Illinois, took to social media on Tuesday to announce the cancellation of school due to heavy snowfall.
“Tomorrow is a snow day,” Father Mike McMahon was seen in a video announcing to students. “You do not have to come to school tomorrow. It’s canceled. We canceled it. Snow day tomorrow.”
The Troy 30-C School District declared Wednesday as an “emergency day,” resulting in the cancellation of both in-person and online classes for students. Additionally, all athletic activities and club meetings have been called off due to the anticipated heavy snowfall and potentially dangerous conditions ahead.
“A day will be added to the end of the school year, and an updated district calendar will be shared soon to reflect this adjustment,” the district said in a notice to families.
Lyons Elementary School District 103 has made the decision to shift to an e-learning day on Wednesday because of the inclement weather. Consequently, all after-school activities as well as before and after school care have been canceled.
St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin has also transitioned to an e-learning day, following in the footsteps of District 158 in Lansing. However, as of Tuesday afternoon, neither school has provided any updates on their websites or social media regarding this decision.
Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 has announced that it will be implementing an early dismissal schedule for Wednesday in order to prioritize the safety of its students and staff.
The district has issued a notice to parents, expressing gratitude for their cooperation and patience, while acknowledging the uncertainty of weather predictions. The current forecast has provided sufficient data to encourage precautionary measures.
School hours will be as follows:
Liberty: 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM
The BUGC class is scheduled from 8:05 AM to 11:10 AM.
Shabbona: 8:10 AM – 11:10 AM
LeVasseur/Shepard: The session will be held from 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM.
The district has announced that there will be no pre-k classes available in the morning or afternoon.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to your family’s schedule, but we wanted to provide this information in advance to allow for necessary preparations,” stated the district in its letter to families. The district anticipates that regular classes will resume on Thursday, February 13, 2025. It’s important to note that the district only sends out communications if there are changes to the normal school schedule. Since a regular school day is expected on Thursday, no further communication will be sent unless adjustments become necessary.”
According to Superintendent Dr. Adam Ehrman, the condition of the roads will be evaluated once the storm has passed. He assures that if any adjustments to the schedule are necessary, families will be promptly notified.
As the Chicago area was upgraded from a winter storm watch to a winter weather advisory, the announcements were made.
The National Weather Service has issued an alert for the region, effective Wednesday morning, cautioning about the possibility of receiving a significant amount of snow. The alert predicts a potential accumulation of 3 to 6 inches of snow in the area.
Snowfall was forecasted to be heavy and widespread throughout the entirety of Wednesday, with the most significant accumulation anticipated during the afternoon and evening hours.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning for potentially treacherous travel conditions, particularly during the afternoon and evening rush hour. They anticipate the heaviest snowfall rates, which could exceed 1 inch per hour at times. It is crucial to be prepared and exercise caution during this period.
The National Weather Service issued a warning about the potential risks of sharply reduced visibility, snow-covered roads, and treacherous travel conditions.
The Illinois State Board of Education specifies that districts can only have a maximum of five E-learning days in a year.
Chicago Public Schools has its own set of guidelines for determining whether or not to close schools due to weather. As of Tuesday, no closures had been announced.
The district takes into account several factors, including:
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- Air temperature and wind chill
- The amount of snow and ice on the ground
- The accessibility of buildings and roads
- Potential issues with heating/cooling systems or power outages
- The ability to transport students safely on buses
- Air quality during periods of extreme heat
“Chicago Public Schools’ goal is to always have schools open. We don’t want students to miss valuable learning time and meals they may depend on as part of the school day,” the district states on its website. “Therefore, CPS will do everything possible to keep classes in session as long as it is safe for students and staff.”