Update: Schools closed today

Update: Rowan-Salisbury Schools are closed again today. Staff is to follow Code B.

Kannapolis Schools are on a two-hour delay for staff and students.

By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

Rowan-Salisbury school officials had not made a decision Tuesday night on whether schools would reopen today after being closed for two days due to snow.

Rita Foil, public information officer for the school system, said Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom was to announce a decision before the early buses rolled out at 5:15 this morning.

Ellen Boyd, director of community relations for the Kannapolis City Schools, notified the Post Tuesday afternoon that the system's schools would reopen today on a two-hour delay.

Tuesday was an optional workday for Kannapolis City teachers.

Foil said N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) crews planned to work through 9 p.m. Tuesday clearing snow and ice from secondary roads and were scheduled to start back at 5 a.m. this morning.

Schools were closed Monday and Tuesday for students and 10-month staff due to the winter storm that started on Friday and continued throughout much of Saturday, topping the snow accumulation with sleet and frigid temperatures that continued through Sunday night.

Foil said school officials were told that DOT crews started clearing the county's secondary roads on Monday, "but the main roads were freezing over again, and they had to put off the secondary roads to go back to the main roads."

Foil said DOT crews have also helped clear school parking lots. In addition, Rowan-Salisbury school officials hired several grading companies Tuesday to help clear school parking lots.

"We just needed help," she said. "We're doing all we can to get school back in session just as soon as possible."

The school's maintenance crews also worked to clear parking lots and walkways, she said.

Foil said school officials were hoping that Tuesday's rain and temperatures in the upper 30s would melt the snow on secondary roads and that the wet roads would not freeze over during the night.

"Our main objective is we want to get the kids back to school as soon as possible," she said, "but first and foremost is the safety of our students and staff."

The decision to close Rowan-Salisbury schools on Monday and Tuesday was made the night before. Foil said the time the decision is made depends on the condition of the roads, school parking lots and walkways.

If the decision was not made until this morning, she said Judy Burris, transportation director for the school system, and Gene Miller, assistant superintendent for operations, will join maintenance crews in driving on the worst roads during the early morning hours and make a recommendation to Superintendent Grissom by around 5 a.m.

The final decision falls on Grissom.

As for when the days missed for snow will be made up, Foil said that will also be up to Grissom. The teacher workday scheduled for Monday, Feb. 15, has already been slotted for a makeup day for Jan. 25, when schools were closed due to flooding from heavy rains.

"We've got a couple of workdays that are out there that we can use," Foil said. "We've got spring break, and we're considering Saturdays."

For the latest news on whether and/or when Rowan-Salisbury schools will open today, check the Salisbury Post Web site at salisburypost.com.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.