Handful of Suburban Schools Remain Open, Opt for Late Start While Majority Close for Day

On a day when the majority of school districts decided to close due to extreme cold temperatures, the state’s second largest high school district opted to stay open.

School officials at Township High School District 214 in Arlington Heights “made the decision based on several different hourly forecasts,” according to an alert posted on the school district’s website.

School officials also noted that for the vast majority of its students, Thursday is a “late-start schedule,” which means most will be starting school at a later time, according to the District 214 website.

The school district has added extra buses today to “ensure timely pickup.”

“As always, our priority is our students. We believe today’s late-start plan balances safety and education,” according to the alert posted on the District 214 website.

Many parents did not agree, taking to the District 214 Facebook page to sound off on the district’s decision to stay open.

Many voiced concern over children’s safety while waiting for the bus in the brutal temperatures. Others demanded an explanation as to why the district opted to stay open.

“When you make a decision that is so far out of whack with common sense and with what is happening with other districts, you owe the community an explanation or an apology,” wrote Gary Anderson of Arlington Heights on the school district’s Facebook page. “You work for us, and today you failed at your primary responsibility--keeping kids safe.”

District 214 is the state’s second largest high school district with 12,025 students attending during the 2013-14 school year. High schools include: John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, Prospect High School and Rolling Meadows High School.

The school district serves residents in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Mt. Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling and Des Plaines.

Meanwhile, most school district throughout the suburbs decided to cancel classes for Thursday as frigid temperatures remained below zero and wind chill values could be as low as 25 to 30 below zero this morning.

Elementary and middle schools in Arlington Heights School District 25 cancelled classes today. Nearby Palatine school districts are also closed for the day.

• More School Closings: Districts Cancel Classes for Thursday
  

A handful of other school districts did decide to stay open today, or are opening late, including: Deerfield Public School District 209, which will start two hours late; Warren Township High School District 121, which start two hours late; and schools in District 36 in Winnetka, which will remain open.