As a potentially severe winter weather system carrying rain, ice and snow bears down on Southeast Missouri, Butler County schools are holding their breath to see whether they will have to shut their doors Thursday and Friday.
__Poplar Bluff R-I__
Superintendent of Poplar Bluff schools Dr. Scott Dill is “concerned” about the possibility of early releases. Letting 5,300 students out of classes early impacts the whole community, especially working families.
“So it’s not a decision we take lightly,” he said.
The district was weighing staying open on Wednesday if the weather permitted, an early release Wednesday or possibly a preemptive closure. However, the district announced Tuesday night that it was calling off school for Wednesday.
Dill is in contact with other superintendents to the west, so R-I does have the advantage of seeing what other districts do.
“We are offered a preview of what other schools are doing,” he noted.
Updates will be shared with students and parents by phone, social media and through other media.
Dill said there will be very little gap between the district’s decision and notifications going out, and that R-I would try to give parents time to plan for childcare.
__Twin Rivers R-X__
“If there’s dangerous weather, then certainly we wouldn’t have school,” said Ben Johnson, Twin Rivers superintendent.
His district is holding off on canceling school just yet in case the forecast changes. However, he has also heard comparisons to the ice storm in 2009 that closed school for 20 days, and is not counting on sunny skies.
“It looks like the real deal so far,” he noted.
Twin Rivers posted to its Facebook page this morning to update families on the situation. At the time of the post, Johnson anticipated a decision being made Wednesday evening about whether to cancel school on Thursday. However, Twin Rivers made the the decision Tuesday evening to also cancel school Wednesday ahead of the storm.
Families also can expect updates through phone, the school’s Facebook page and area media. If they hear nothing, that indicates school is still on, he said.
“Hopefully we’re prepared, and it will shift a little bit and soften the blow,” Johnson said.
__Neelyville R-IV__
Debra Parish, superintendent of Neelyville schools, urges families to be prepared for the storm and the possibility of closures, but school is already scheduled to be closed Thursday and Friday. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Thursday, weather permitting.
“Our goal is to watch as many weather models as we can ... and make our decision based on that,” Parish said.
She hopes to give a definitive answer in plenty of time for parents to organize accordingly. Closures will be announced with an automated phone call from the school, over Neelyville’s Facebook page and website, and through other media.
__Three Rivers College__
Three Rivers College president Dr. Wesley Payne said the school is keeping an eye on the developing system, but has not ruled whether to shut down campus yet.
“We’re undetermined at this time … but if the weather comes in as anticipated, then we’ll definitely close,” he said.
A final decision will be reached Wednesday or Thursday. TRC will reach out to students through email and text, and the final decision will also be posted on their website and social media as well as shared on other local media.
Information from districts has been updated since this was originally posted.