Forsyth County Schools Will Open on Time Tomorrow

Students in Forsyth County who were hoping for a day off from school or a few extra hours in bed will be disappointed to learn that Forsyth County Schools plans to open on time on Thursday morning in the face of below-freezing temperatures.

According to an announcement posted on Forsyth County Schools’ Facebook page just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden has decided not to delay or cancel classes on Jan. 8, despite forecasts which predict an overnight low temperature of 12 degrees and a high temperature of only 31 degrees on Thursday.

Forsyth County’s school bus drivers are planning to start their vehicles a little earlier than normal to allow for the cabin to be fully heated when kids get on the bus in the morning, the announcement said.

According to the school district’s website, which outlines the procedures enacted when inclement weather threatens to cancel school in Forsyth County, Bearden reviewed weather predictions, received input from the director of transportation and law enforcement regarding anticipated road conditions, and also considered the temperature and wind chill factor before deciding to open school on the regular schedule.

Other school districts in Georgia are pushing back the start of their school days by several hours; according to WSB-TV, Chatooga, Dalton, Habersham, Murray, Pickens, Towns, and White county schools will all delay opening by two hours, while Haralson County schools have been delayed by three hours.

Starting in the 2015-16 school year, Forsyth County Schools will no longer plan inclement weather days into its academic calendar; students will be expected to make up lost instructional time by using the county’s itslearning online platform.