Montclair Schools, MSU Closed Thursday Due To Blizzard

MONTCLAIR, NJ -- Montclair's public schools and its school offices are closed Thursday, Jan. 4 due to an expected snow storm, administrators said on the district website.

According to MPS officials:

"When a decision is made by the Superintendent regarding a school closing or delayed opening due to inclement weather, an alert message is posted in the moving “text alert” at the top of each page on the district website. The announcement usually appears by 6 a.m. There may be an occasion where a decision is made the night before, in which case, the alert will appear at that time."

In addition:

"The district’s automated system is activated to call, text, or email the families of all students in the case of either a school closing or delayed opening. Emails and phone messages to families and recorded school open/closed status messages are both in English and Spanish. SMS (text messages to cell phones) messages are English only. Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date in your Family Access account."

Parents may also receive information by:

1. Calling any school's main number and pressing option 6 (except for the MHS main building: press option 9) — School closures and delayed openings
2. Calling the main number at Central Office: (973) 509-4000 — School closures and delayed openings

"While we try our best to avoid disrupting regular school schedules as it may inconvenience some parents, staff and students, the decision to close the schools is made by the Superintendent when there is a clear indication that weather conditions could endanger the safety of children," Montclair officials said. "In addition to compounding traffic congestion throughout the town, transporting students on school buses could put both children and drivers in danger depending on road conditions."

In addition to the town's public schools, Montclair State University officials announced that the college was closed on Thursday and that all on-campus classes were canceled.

Send news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: MorgueFile