Some metro Atlanta school districts called off Friday classes due to power outages caused by Tropical Storm Zeta.
Cobb, Cherokee, Fulton and Paulding counties announced they will cancel both in-person and remote classes Friday after all three systems reported many of their schools and students were without electricity.
Gwinnett and Douglas counties, two school systems that offer both remote and in-person classes for students, will resume operations Friday with virtual learning for students.
DeKalb County schools will close its buildings Friday, but students and teachers are to resume remote learning lessons. Twelve-month essential employees, including maintenance and custodial staff, are required to report to work by 11 a.m. DeKalb students who aren’t able to log in for remote learning won’t be penalized, the district said.
Atlanta Public Schools will also cancel virtual classes for its students “given the uncertainty of when power will be restored for many of our students and staff.” Friday will be a remote work day for APS teachers. School administrators will be allowed to report to district buildings, and essential workers for the district are expected to report to work “to help with recovery efforts.”
Cobb officials told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the district has more than 50 schools without power. Fulton said more than 40 of its schools have no electricity. Cherokee schools said the system still has seven schools without power and more than 20 roads across the county are impassable.
“A decision to allow Friday extracurricular events will be made mid-day based upon local conditions,” the Cherokee school district said on its Facebook page.
Paulding officials said Thursday on its Facebook page that 13 of its schools and facilities have no power and “we do not have an estimated time of restoration due to the extent of storm damage.”
Paulding staff members do not have to report to work, and local schools will provide updates on planned extracurricular activities, the district said.
Gwinnett County Schools, the state’s largest district, will also use Friday as a remote learning day for all students. Students who can’t participate in virtual learning will be given the opportunity to make up the missed assignments, the system said on its Facebook page. Teachers will teach from home, but 12-month staff members should report to work if it’s safe. After-school and weekend activities will go continue as scheduled, the district said.
Marietta City Schools said Friday is an independent virtual learning day for students, so they won’t have to report to remote classes.
Fayette, Forsyth and Henry county schools said they will continue with remote and in-person learning Friday.
“With sporadic power outages still reported across the county, we understand this might impact some of our remote learners,” Henry County Schools said. “If your home is still without power Friday report this info to your school.”
City Schools of Decatur will resume remote learning Friday, but its facilities will remain closed, the system said on its Facebook page. Students will not be penalized if they can’t engage in virtual learning. The system noted Decatur High School’s varsity football game will go ahead as planned.
Douglas County Schools will resume operations with remote learning for students. The district said on its Facebook page that if students are still without power, their teachers will work with them to make up any assignments they miss.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Leon Stafford contributed to this report.
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