West Virginia Schools Face Extended Closures Amid Winter Storm

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A second wave of winter weather is expected to force more West Virginia school districts to cancel in-person classes Monday, extending a streak of closures that began last week. Most of the state’s 55 county school districts have not held in-person classes since Dec. 20, due to a combination of Christmas break and severe winter conditions.

State School Superintendent Michele Blatt told MetroNews that county superintendents are making informed decisions to prioritize safety. “The weather we are experiencing currently has caused challenges for most of us, and our school community is no exception,” Blatt said. “Our counties have plans which they are currently utilizing to protect the safety of students and staff, while also providing guidance for instruction.”

West Virginia’s state code allows counties to build up to 10 school days into their calendars for weather-related disruptions. These include five virtual learning days and five snow days. According to the state Department of Education, 46 of the state’s 55 county school systems have approved applications for non-traditional instruction days, which provide five days for off-site learning. Each county determines how these days are used, and parents are informed in advance.

Several counties have already used a combination of snow days and remote learning days last week. Counties that have not applied for non-traditional instruction days or added 30 minutes to their instructional day must use built-in Outside-School Environment Days or Out-of-Calendar days.

As of Sunday evening, additional counties, including Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Logan, Mingo, Nicholas, and Wayne, announced closures for Monday. Government buildings and transit systems, such as the Kanawha County Courthouse and St. Albans City Hall, also delayed openings or closed entirely due to hazardous driving conditions.

The winter storm, which brought snow, ice, and freezing rain to the region, is expected to continue through Tuesday. Temperatures are forecast to moderate Monday before dropping again mid-week, prolonging the challenges for schools and communities.