Even though Wednesday’s sunshine and rising mercury readings provided some thawing out, Shawnee School Superintendent Marilyn Bradford said Shawnee and several other districts will be closed again Thursday morning. Bradford was able to confirm that Tecumseh, Bethel, Dale, and Pleasant Grove schools also will remain closed Thursday.
Shawnee schools and all others in the Tri-County area, including Shawnee’s two universities, canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center also will be closed again Thursday, superintendent Marty Lewis confirmed late Wednesday. Lewis said “the main highways are fine, but the side roads and campus are just a little too risky.”
He added “we feel like we need another day to make sure the campus is safe.”
Arlene Burton, Pleasant Grove superintendent, said her school and North Rock Creek were closing again Thursday as well. She said South Rock Creek Superintendent Ken Leone told her his school would hold classes, but would start at an hour later than usual.
Bradford indicated around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday that she and the principals at the various school sites were concerned about the safety of students and staff.
She said Tecumseh Superintendent Tom Wilsie had indicated he would not make a decision until later Wednesday evening. And the same was true with Bethel Acres Superintendent David Glover. She said both of them were experiencing similar problems at their respective school sites.
Glover had said earlier Wednesday afternoon he planned to have classes Thursday, but stopped short of making a guarantee. Bradford affirmed Glover’s decision to cancel late Wednesday.
Glover and his colleagues were busy Wednesday afternoon clearing sidewalks and parking areas, dangerous places for many Oklahomans during this week’s ice storm.
Dale Public Schools Superintendent Charlie Dickinson had announced Dale would be open, then changed his mind later in the afternoon Wednesday and Bradford said Dale was closing Thursday too.
St. Gregory’s University President Dr. David Wagie said he is planning to hold classes Thursday. SGU sent students and staff home Monday afternoon, and canceled Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday classes.
Attempts to contact someone at Oklahoma Baptist University about Thursday’s classes were unsuccessful. They were closed Wednesday, but the OBU Web site stated “due to weather-related closings, OBU’s January Term schedule has been changed. The final day of J-Term class sessions will be Thursday, Jan. 29. J-Term Final Exams will be on Friday, Jan. 30. Any students unable to participate in exams on Friday should contact their professors to make appropriate arrangements for completing their exams.”
Bradford said that school crews were able to clear off buses, and employees and contractors were diligently working on parking lots, sidewalks and other areas in and around the schools so classes could resume.
“They are not making a lot of progress on the ice. They able to move the sleet, but when they get to the layer of ice underneath, it’s just taking a lot longer than they anticipated,” she said.
Although school officials and bus drivers believe the buses can operate okay Thursday, she said there was serious concern about the students’ safety making it to the bus stops.
“And we are extremely concerned about our students, faculty and staff around the schools. There are some schools they [the contracted personnel clearing parking lots] haven’t gotten to,” Bradford said late Wednesday.
Bradford explained that the parking lots and sidewalks really aren’t in the shape they wanted them, ahead of Wednesday’s night predicted below freezing weather where areas will refreeze that didn’t have enough time to thaw out and dry off before dark.
Wellston schools should also be open, the district said Wednesday.
The following schools and districts were closed Wednesday but could not be reached regarding classes today: Earlsboro, Maud, Tecumseh, Macomb, McLoud, Meeker, New Lima, Prague, Sasakwa, Strother, Wanette, Carney, Chandler, Stroud, White Rock, Agra, Asher, South Rock Creek and Grove.
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Even though Wednesday’s sunshine and rising mercury readings provided some thawing out, Shawnee School Superintendent Marilyn Bradford said Shawnee and several other districts will be closed again Thursday morning. Bradford was able to confirm that Tecumseh, Bethel, Dale, and Pleasant Grove schools also will remain closed Thursday.
Shawnee schools and all others in the Tri-County area, including Shawnee’s two universities, canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center also will be closed again Thursday, superintendent Marty Lewis confirmed late Wednesday. Lewis said “the main highways are fine, but the side roads and campus are just a little too risky.”
He added “we feel like we need another day to make sure the campus is safe.”
Arlene Burton, Pleasant Grove superintendent, said her school and North Rock Creek were closing again Thursday as well. She said South Rock Creek Superintendent Ken Leone told her his school would hold classes, but would start at an hour later than usual.
Bradford indicated around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday that she and the principals at the various school sites were concerned about the safety of students and staff.
She said Tecumseh Superintendent Tom Wilsie had indicated he would not make a decision until later Wednesday evening. And the same was true with Bethel Acres Superintendent David Glover. She said both of them were experiencing similar problems at their respective school sites.
Glover had said earlier Wednesday afternoon he planned to have classes Thursday, but stopped short of making a guarantee. Bradford affirmed Glover’s decision to cancel late Wednesday.
Glover and his colleagues were busy Wednesday afternoon clearing sidewalks and parking areas, dangerous places for many Oklahomans during this week’s ice storm.
Dale Public Schools Superintendent Charlie Dickinson had announced Dale would be open, then changed his mind later in the afternoon Wednesday and Bradford said Dale was closing Thursday too.
St. Gregory’s University President Dr. David Wagie said he is planning to hold classes Thursday. SGU sent students and staff home Monday afternoon, and canceled Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday classes.
Attempts to contact someone at Oklahoma Baptist University about Thursday’s classes were unsuccessful. They were closed Wednesday, but the OBU Web site stated “due to weather-related closings, OBU’s January Term schedule has been changed. The final day of J-Term class sessions will be Thursday, Jan. 29. J-Term Final Exams will be on Friday, Jan. 30. Any students unable to participate in exams on Friday should contact their professors to make appropriate arrangements for completing their exams.”
Bradford said that school crews were able to clear off buses, and employees and contractors were diligently working on parking lots, sidewalks and other areas in and around the schools so classes could resume.
“They are not making a lot of progress on the ice. They able to move the sleet, but when they get to the layer of ice underneath, it’s just taking a lot longer than they anticipated,” she said.
Although school officials and bus drivers believe the buses can operate okay Thursday, she said there was serious concern about the students’ safety making it to the bus stops.
“And we are extremely concerned about our students, faculty and staff around the schools. There are some schools they [the contracted personnel clearing parking lots] haven’t gotten to,” Bradford said late Wednesday.
Bradford explained that the parking lots and sidewalks really aren’t in the shape they wanted them, ahead of Wednesday’s night predicted below freezing weather where areas will refreeze that didn’t have enough time to thaw out and dry off before dark.
Wellston schools should also be open, the district said Wednesday.
The following schools and districts were closed Wednesday but could not be reached regarding classes today: Earlsboro, Maud, Tecumseh, Macomb, McLoud, Meeker, New Lima, Prague, Sasakwa, Strother, Wanette, Carney, Chandler, Stroud, White Rock, Agra, Asher, South Rock Creek and Grove.
