Currituck

Making the Call : School Closures

Currituck County School students will be required to make up today’s missed classes this coming Saturday. Many readers have asked: How does the school system make the call to close or delay schools.

Sheriff’s deputies patrolling Currituck’s primary and secondary roads, are in constant contact with the County 911 / emergency communications staff. According to Melissa Jensen - communications specialist with Currituck County Schools - deputies contact the communications department when poor road conditions or inclement weather could threaten student and employee safety on their way to schools.

When these conditions exist or threaten, county communications staff contact Gary Cox - schools transportation director. Upon receiving the call, Cox hits the roads sometime between 3:30 and 4:00 am, gauging the potential for unsafe conditions. Should Cox determine that the potential for hazardous road conditions exist, the call is made to schools superintendent C. Michael Warren.

Jensen related that at that time, Warren may make the call to delay or even close schools. In some instances, the superintendent may even go out and travel the roads to determine the conditions. Earlier this morning at 3:30 am, snow was falling steadily throughout most of the county.

“With the county being so spread out from Moyock to Point Harbor, the situation could exist, as it did last week, where Jarvisburg had significant snowfall, and Moyock had none,” Jensen stated.

Once the determination has been made to close or delay schools, Superintendent Warren contacts Jensen, who sets up an automated call to the phones of all students parents. According to Jensen, the school systems utilizes an internet based software package called “Alert Now”, which enables the school system to send a voice message announcing the closure. The package, which was put in place earlier this year, may also be used to notify subgroups of students and parents - certain schools, certain grade levels.

When asked if the consideration had ever been given to only close a portion of the county schools, Jensen replied that was impracticle, due to the faculty and staff being from widespread areas.

Students and faculty will be required to make up Wednesday’s missed day on the coming Saturday. Jensen stated, the closure of Tuesday, January 20 fell on a workday, so that would not have to be made up. Pending Board of Education approval, the school closure of Wednesday, January 21 will be made up on Monday, February 16 - a date originally scheduled as a workday.

Anyone with questions about closings delays and makeup days may visit the County Schools website at: www.currituck.k12.nc.us. You may also signup for the alert listserv to receive email notices of closures and delays.

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