Schools monitoring weather ahead of dangerous cold
Schools haven’t yet canceled classes in anticipation of the extremely cold weather that’s on the way, but administrators are monitoring the conditions as temperatures in the single digits and below get closer.
Temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday morning will drop below zero, with wind chills in the negative double digits, according to ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather forecasts.
Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said administrators continuously monitor the weather and will announce if there will be any schedule changes or cancellations.
Closings because of the cold would not be unprecedented — Columbia Public Schools canceled classes last January because of negative wind chills. The district has also started classes late in previous years to avoid the worst of extremely cold mornings.
Chris Felmlee, superintendent of the Southern Boone School District, said buildings will be in “occupied” mode for the next several days to ensure warm classrooms and school buildings.
Felmlee said the district’s grounds team will be ready to salt if necessary.
If the buses start up fine and the buildings don’t have heating issues, then the schools are ready for the students at Southern Boone, Felmlee said.
ABC 17 News will be monitoring for any school delays or cancellations. Closings will be posted on the ABC 17 News website and on TV broadcasts.
