Local school districts canceled school for today, but Friday”s plan is hinged on the severity of winter weather — snow, freezing rain and sleet — predicted for today.
Officials with the Columbus Municipal School District were out at 4:30 this morning checking road conditions to determine if buses could run. By 5:30 a.m., school officials had decided to close for the day.
But plans for Friday are still up in the air. CMSD Superintendent Del Phillips is meeting with transportation coordinators at 4 p.m. today and will make a decision from there, said Janet Lewis, district spokeswoman.
The district will notify parents of closures via Falcon Phone Blast messages. Employees will be notified by e-mail; television and radio stations will carry the announcement at 6 a.m.
Lowndes County School District Superintendent Mike Halford said Lowndes County schools expect to resume a normal schedule Friday.
Starkville School District will decide later today whether classes will resume or be canceled for Friday.
“We won”t know until this afternoon,” said Nicole Thomas, spokeswoman for SSD.
Starkville schools will use a voice and e-mail messaging service to alert parents and students to closures based on recommendations by the Oktibbeha County Emergency Management Agency.
Notices will also be posted on the district Web site and local television stations. Oktibbeha County schools will use a voice messaging service, send e-mails to employees and post notices on its Web site and local television stations.
West Point and Clay County schools will notify parents via television and radio announcements.
The Mississippi Department of Education also is posting public school closures at the following Web site: www.mde.k12.ms.us/weather.
On the Web
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.