Education
Education

Gwinnett schools: How do they decide to close for bad weather?

Minute by minute and day by day, some school districts in metro Atlanta are clawing back instructional time lost to unusually severe winter weather this year. Gwinnett County, Georgia’s largest district, had already altered its calendar last month to make up the three days lost to an Arctic chill in early January and a snowstorm later that month. Now, in response to another round of snow that shuttered school for four days this month, the district has announced it will lengthen 48 school days by half an hour, from Monday through mid-May. FULL ARTICLE HERE | GET SCHOOLED BLOG: Should schools cancel spring break to make up snow days? I vote 'yes.' | More Atlanta area school headlines
Minute by minute and day by day, some school districts in metro Atlanta are clawing back instructional time lost to unusually severe winter weather this year. Gwinnett County, Georgia’s largest district, had already altered its calendar last month to make up the three days lost to an Arctic chill in early January and a snowstorm later that month. Now, in response to another round of snow that shuttered school for four days this month, the district has announced it will lengthen 48 school days by half an hour, from Monday through mid-May. FULL ARTICLE HERE | GET SCHOOLED BLOG: Should schools cancel spring break to make up snow days? I vote 'yes.' | More Atlanta area school headlines
By
Dec 8, 2017

UPDATE at 12:15 p.m.: Gwinnett  schools has announced an early dismissal for Friday. See details here. 

With the season's first snow possible on Friday, parents and students are keeping a close eye on school plans.

Gwinnett County Public Schools’ superintendent is in charge of making the decision to close school. That call is made in consultation with public safety, county, emergency management, and state transportation officials.

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Karen Minton reports.

The school district follows a list of producedures when inclement weather is expected, including having operations and facilities team members hit the roads as early as 3:30 a.m. to inspect conditions.

Gwinnett’s procedure states the school district is more likely to cancel school “in the early morning” and that “full-day cancellations usually are announced by 6 a.m.” Cancellations and early dismissals will be announced on the district’s website, social media pages, and media, including AJC.com.

LEARN MORE: PREPARING FOR WINTER WEATHER

About the Author

Follow Vanessa McCray on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

More Georgia students could be prohibited from using their smartphones and other devices in school if Gov. Brian Kemp signs a bill that has now passed the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate. (AP file photo)

Credit: AP

These Georgia students can’t use cellphones in school if Kemp signs bill

A ban on the use of cellphones in some Georgia schools now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp to sign, after lawmakers voted in favor of the bill.

How do you spell Georgia spelling bee champ? Sarv Dharavane

Two Georgia students will go on to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

AJC ON CAMPUS

Hip-hop, video games, research investments and a reunion at Georgia colleges

Here’s what Georgia's colleges have been up to in this edition of AJC On Campus.

The Latest

More Georgia students could be prohibited from using their smartphones and other devices in school if Gov. Brian Kemp signs a bill that has now passed the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate. (AP file photo)

Credit: AP

These Georgia students can’t use cellphones in school if Kemp signs bill

How do you spell Georgia spelling bee champ? Sarv Dharavane

AJC ON CAMPUS

Hip-hop, video games, research investments and a reunion at Georgia colleges

Featured

Savannah's Talmadge Bridge sits just downriver from the Georgia Ports Authority cargo ship terminals. The span was recently listed in a NTSB report among those that are at risk for vessel strike following the March 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. (Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Savannah’s bridge is anchored on the riverbank. So how could it topple?

The federal agency investigating Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapse lists Savannah's Talmadge Bridge as susceptible to vessel strikes despite piers being located on riverbank.

Brewing at the CDC: Five top resignations and ‘potentially catastrophic’ cuts

The Atlanta-based CDC is already dealing with hundreds of laid-off staff and restrictions on communication that make it difficult for some to accomplish their basic work.

How Atlanta played a role in the record-breaking ‘Othello on Broadway’ revival

The revival of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, directed by Kenny Leon, breaks Broadway records.