ATLANTA — How do these school districts decide when to close or delay classes in the case of potentially bad weather?
In some cases, school districts have been criticized by some parents for not closing early enough, like the infamous Snow Jam of 2014, when some school buses were stuck on area roads for hours.
Sometimes, they’re heckled for closing school when no bad weather comes. Sometimes, they’re taken to task for not closing at all.
We'll be updating the latest forecast models of the possible winter weather, on Channel 2 Action News
Knowing how impactful their decisions may be, most school officials begin having planning meetings and discussions as soon as nasty forecasts come to light.
The first step, say officials, is to monitor forecasts from the National Weather Service and local newscasts.
The meetings by decision makers often continue up to the day or night of the event and continue into the early morning hours. Many send staff members out as the weather arrives to monitor road conditions first-hand.
They often also consult with local emergency management agencies, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, and the Georgia Department of Transportation.
But the final call in the school districts comes from the superintendent.
Channel 2 Action News and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution websites will keep you updated.
Cox Media Group
