Montgomery County public schools will open two hours late Thursday due to anticipated “sleet and ice accumulation” creating “hazardous travel conditions,” Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
The statement said the two-hour delay was “out of an abundance of caution,” noting that employees and students travel from a variety of areas to get to school.
“We recognize that storms like this can have varying impacts, with some areas experiencing little to no disruption,” the announcement said. “We understand the frustration this may cause and appreciate your patience as we prioritize the well-being of our entire community.”
The National Weather Service office for the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., region issued a winter weather advisory for central and southeast Montgomery County beginning 9 p.m. Wednesday and ending 10 a.m. Thursday.
According to the advisory, the Washington, D.C., area could see up to 1 inch of snow and sleet and up to one-tenth of an inch of ice.
According to the statement, MCPS teams will monitor conditions overnight and work to prepare schools for a delayed opening. However, if “ice accumulation is greater than expected,” the district will reevaluate and provide an update by 6 a.m. Thursday.
The school district has implemented the following adjustments for Thursday:
- Morning bus routes will operate on a two-hour delay.
- All field trips and activities that begin at 10:30 a.m. or earlier are canceled, including programs at Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring
- Infant and toddler appointments scheduled before 10 a.m. are canceled; appointments scheduled at 10 a.m. or later will continue as planned.
- Morning pre-kindergarten/Head Start and pre-k special education programs are canceled.
- Afternoon pre-k/Head Start and pre-k special education programs will begin at their regular times.
- Schools will dismiss at their normal time.
- Before-school programs and child care are canceled – and after-school child care programs may operate as scheduled; families should check with their provider.
