The weather forced many schools in Alabama to close today While north Alabama received significant snowfall, areas in central Alabama braced for subfreezing temperatures and ice.
These weather situations present major challenges to school systems that are looking to not only keep the education process going, but to keep students safe at the same time
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Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey say the decision to close schools is left to individual districts.
“It’s county by county, so they’re working with their county EMA directors to make the right decision-making resources as quickly as possible,” Dr. Mackey said.
The process is time-consuming. Superintendents consider multiple factors, especially if schools are located in rural areas.
Macon County Schools Superintendent Dr. Melissa Williams is no stranger to these challenges when faced with threats of severe weather.
“We apologize for any inconvenience for parents, but at the end of the day, our students are our priority,” Dr. Williams said.
About 90% of Macon County students use the school bus to get to and from school, and many of their homes are on dirt roads.
“The buses can’t travel into those locations, “the superintendent explains. “For instance, if there is a lot of rainfall, it washes the roads out. Our buses can’t get in, nor can cars get out.”
Virtual learning is an option for Alabama schools, but face-to-face instruction is the preferred method for learning.
If schools choose not to do a virtual learning day, the state requires them to make up the days to meet the minimum instructional hours.
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