D113A Schools to Remain Closed Friday

Due to inclement weather, all District 113A schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, January 9, 2015. All after school and evening student activities are canceled for Friday.

“I have been in contact with our transportation department, consulted with the Village of Lemont and the D113A Board of Education, and have looked at the forecast for tomorrow,” wrote Superintendent Dr. Courtney Orzel. “Our decision to close school tomorrow is based on what we believe to be in the best interest of our District 113A community and not based on what other districts are deciding to do.

“ There is no one who wants to see our students in schools learning more than the staff and Board of Education of District 113A; however, not at the potential cost of our students’ or staff members’ safety in returning to school.”

The district is “faced with geographic challenges with busses getting up and down steep hills and at the same time our routes expect students to be transported in large, open areas.” Blowing and drifting snow, along with the predicted temperatures of remaining around 0 degrees and wind chills well below zero, result in treacherous roads, even if cleared and salted, according to the notice.

“I know that many of you are concerned about adding days to the end of the year,” Orzel wrote. “Please remember that five emergency days exist in a school calendar for such reasons as this. However, the Board of Education will consider being in attendance on President’s Day. Teaching and learning are obviously a priority, and the safety of our children is as well. We believe that we need to continue to err on the side of caution given these extreme weather conditions and remain consistent with our practice the past two days.

“We have continued to make this decision as early as possible out of respect to our families. Notification comes later today than yesterday as a result of the many options that I have considered when making this decision.”

At this time, classes will resume on Monday, January 12, 2015.

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