Hatboro-Horsham High, Keith Valley Closing Early Thursday

HATBORO / HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Heavy winds, power outages, and inoperable phone lines are forcing early dismissal Thursday at Keith Valley Middle School and Hatboro-Horsham High School, officials said.

Schools Superintendent Scott Eveslage informed the school community and staff about the "important weather early dismissal."

He said that heavy winds have resulted in some downed trees and power lines in the Keith Valley Middle School area of Horsham, including the closing of Moreland Road near Meetinghouse Road.

"We are experiencing intermittent power outages at three of our schools, including Hallowell Elementary, Blair Mill Elementary, and Keith Valley Middle School," the superintendent said. "Power is being supplemented by the generators on site."

While the essential functions of the buildings are operable, albeit in some limited capacity, including electric, plumbing, heat, and emergency systems, they are being monitored and assessed at each location to ensure their continued functionality, he said.

Eveslage said since there is no immediate safety risk to students or staff, the elementary schools plan to finish the day on a normal schedule.

Meanwhile, the phones and network at Keith Valley Middle School are not operable, the superintendent said.

That is leading to students being dismissed early from high school and middle school.

Dismissal times for today will be as follows:

• High School dismissal at 2 p.m.
• Keith Valley dismissal at 2:30 p.m. (all after-school and evening activities are canceled)
• Elementary dismissal at regular time (3:30 p.m.) After-school programming through Right at School will proceed as scheduled.

He said to expect bus delays on Thursday afternoon.

Walkers from Keith Valley will not be able to walk along the closed sections of Moreland Avenue, as the Horsham Police Department has closed that section.

"Due to expected increased volume in parent-pickup and the difficulty accessing the site, please be patient and safe with the dismissal of Keith Valley Middle School. The HereComesTheBus app remains an active tool for families to be informed about bus delays," he said.

"We remain in communication with the Horsham Police Department about this matter and will take steps to ensure appropriate safety measures are enacted at dismissal," the superintendent said. "Given the current weather conditions, we may experience additional outages or downed wires in the area. We urge everyone to exercise caution and prioritize safety. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary."