Wake County Schools Facing Decisions Amid Winter Storm Alert

RALEIGH, N.C. — As a winter storm approaches central North Carolina, Wake County Schools will not implement remote learning this week. The school district’s decision comes as they assess the potential impact of inclement weather on in-person classes.

According to Tamani Powell, the director of marketing and communications for Wake County Schools, the district has opted not to utilize remote learning days during this period. “We want to evaluate the situation thoroughly before making any decisions on Wednesday and Thursday,” Powell stated in a text to WRAL News.

As of noon Tuesday, Wake County Public School System had not confirmed whether it would hold in-person classes amid predictions of snow and sleet. Other districts across central North Carolina are weighing their options for closures or remote learning days this week.

By state law, North Carolina public schools are required to provide 1,025 instructional hours annually. Wake County Schools’ traditional calendar includes 1,062 instructional hours, which provides a buffer but requires the district to exhaust its additional time and work days before resorting to virtual instruction.

Many schools in Wake County have already used their banked days, which are typically reserved for unexpected closures. Monday served as a teacher workday for most of the traditional calendar schools, while eight schools held make-up sessions due to previous closures from winter weather.

During a school board meeting last month, discussions arose regarding the need to revise the remote learning policy. “We need the option to fall back on for learning without relying on our scheduled days,” said school board member Dr. Wing Ng.

Wake County’s traditional calendar allows for five days off during the school year, not including days lost to HVAC issues or early dismissals. The year-round schools in the district have six scheduled days off. This week’s impending storm marks the third winter weather event of the season, prompting a Winter Storm Warning to take effect across northern and eastern counties in North Carolina from Wednesday at 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. Thursday.

Forecasts predict 2-4 inches of snow and sleet in northern Wake County, while Raleigh is expected to receive 1-2 inches. The ongoing winter season has caused numerous school closures, quickly reducing the amount of “banked time” set aside for unexpected school cancellations.

And with these severe weather events impacting school schedules, Andy Jenks, a spokesperson for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools noted, “Our bank time is nearly depleted due to earlier winter weather, which included one snow day and several delayed starts this year.”

For many districts, the remote learning strategy employed during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven beneficial. “We strive to utilize remote learning whenever feasible if we receive prior notice,” said Courtney Currin, assistant superintendent of human resources and operations for Granville County Schools. Currin explained that they supplement online learning with paper packets as needed.

Decisions about going remote or canceling in-person classes are often complex. Most public schools have the allowance for up to five remote learning days. “Remote learning enables us to maintain continuity with students, reducing the need to revisit material,” Currin added. “However, in instances of possible power outages from ice storms, we typically choose to close schools instead of moving to remote instruction, striving to consider the access our families have.”