As a winter storm bears down on the Chicago area, a snow day is in store for students, but not a day off. Many schools in northwest suburban Chicago are shifting gears to e-learning or canceling classes altogether as a preemptive strike to ensure student safety amidst blizzard-like conditions. According to the Chicago Tribune, Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire sent a digital notice to parents that both roads and weather may bring hazardous conditions.
With the Chicago and Northwest Indiana area under a winter storm warning through mid-Saturday, the National Weather Service is predicting heavy snowfall and wind gusts up to 35 mph. These potentially perilous conditions have led to a flurry of school closures, "To ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff," administrators from Stevenson High mentioned in the statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune. District 214 and Stevenson High are not alone; closures span multiple districts including Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, and Barrington, have made similar calls to action.
The area is looking at snow accumulations of around 3 to 5 inches and subzero temperatures in the storm's aftermath. Schools like Stevenson are making use of virtual learning to keep classes in session – a move that will not only ensure education continues but also necessitates that "Student attendance will be verified by the completion of required assignments, which must be turned in by the beginning of class on ... Jan. 17," as officials from Stevenson specified in their message to families.
Friday extracurriculars have been taken off the calendar too, with after-school sports and childcare programs hitting pause in anticipation of the storm. "We acknowledge the inconvenience closing school may cause, and we appreciate your understanding of our need to put the safety of students and staff first," officials from Barrington School District 220 communicated to parents in the district's notification. Meanwhile, the College of DuPage and Joliet Junior College opted for e-learning, and several other schools in the region closed their doors completely, NBC Chicago reported.
Travel advisories are in full effect as the emergency winter storm warning projects brutal travel conditions. The National Weather Service cautions that "Travel could be very difficult to impossible," especially since visibility could be significantly impaired due to blowing snow. This warning casts a potential shadow over both morning and evening commutes, urging residents to remain cautious and vigilant.
