West Virginia Schools Close as Temperatures Plummet

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia education officials announced widespread school closures and delays for Wednesday, Jan. 22, as freezing temperatures gripped the state overnight.

The West Virginia Department of Education confirmed multiple school systems would remain closed, while others shifted to non-traditional schedules. Kanawha County Schools implemented a two-hour delay for most students, with four elementary schools — Bridgeview, Chesapeake, Edgewood, and Flinn — transitioning to remote learning due to heating issues.

Kanawha County was the only district in the state to hold in-person classes Wednesday. A social media post from the school system cited ongoing maintenance challenges as the reason for the remote learning decision at the affected schools.

In Morgantown, West Virginia University delayed the start of classes until 10 a.m., canceling all in-person sessions scheduled before that time. University officials urged students and faculty to monitor updates for further changes.

Residents across the state expressed mixed reactions to the closures. Eyewitness News launched a digital poll to gauge public opinion on the decision, with many voicing concerns about the impact on working families and student learning.

For the latest updates on school closures and weather-related announcements, residents are encouraged to check local news outlets and official school district websites.