ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A number of school districts in the Tampa Bay area are making plans for expected severe weather on Tuesday.
Pasco County Schools said: "In response to the latest weather forecasts and consulting with Pasco County Emergency Management about tomorrow's projected severe weather conditions, including dangerously high winds, the Pasco County School District has made the decision to close all schools and district offices tomorrow, January 9, 2024, to keep students safe."
The district added: "The safety of our students is our top priority, and the forecasted high winds pose a significant risk, especially for bus
transportation."
After-school activities are also canceled Tuesday in Pasco County.
Citrus County Schools will be on a half day schedule for Tuesday, Jan. 9.
The dismissal times are as follows:
Elementary: 12:35 p.m.
Middle School: 11:20 a.m.
High Schools: 11:40 a.m.
All after-school programs and extra-curricular activities are canceled as well on Tuesday. YMCA programs will continue to operate until 6 p.m. at all elementary schools.
Pinellas County Schools said it "is closely monitoring the weather forecast for Tuesday, January 9, 2024. The school district is communicating regularly with Pinellas County Emergency Management to stay apprised of the forecast and any impact it may have on our district. At this time, Pinellas County Schools will be OPEN for normal operations on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. All sports and school-related activities will occur as normal. Pinellas County Schools recognizes that different parts of the county may be impacted in different ways. Please assess your situation and decide what is in the best interest of your family’s needs. Please communicate directly with your school if your student will be absent due to weather. Any student absent due to weather-related circumstances will be marked as an excused absence. "
Polk County Schools sent a statement to Spectrum Bay News 9 that said after-school sports and activities on Tuesday are canceled because of weather concerns.
Hillsborough County Schools told Spectrum Bay News 9: "All Hillsborough County public schools will be open on Tuesday. After-school activities and sports are also as scheduled. Principals will monitor the weather at their individual school sites for any possible changes to dismissal procedures as the weather in one part of the county can be very different from other areas. We will continue to collaborate with county officials and if there are any changes, we will notify all families."
In a prepared statement, Manatee County Schools said: "As students return to school tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9, 2024, the School District continues to closely monitor the weather forecast. Should conditions warrant, outdoor activities like athletic events and practices may be cancelled. If events are cancelled, messages will be sent from individual schools to parents and the school community. Your safety is our top priority. Also, rain or shine, please remember to allow extra time for travel tomorrow since our schools are resuming classes after an extended break."
In a statement on its website, Hernando County Schools said: "After closely monitoring the weather conditions that are predicted to impact our area Tuesday, strong winds and coastal flooding may hamper transportation in the afternoon. To ensure the safety of all students and staff, Hernando Schools will move to an Early Release schedule for Tuesday. All after-school activities and events for Tuesday will also be cancelled. After school care providers Boys & Girls Club and The Y will remain open, following the Early Dismissal schedule."
Sarasota County Schools is cancelling all outdoor after-school activities for traditional public schools on Tuesday. "We anticipate no other changes to SCS’ operations at this time. All traditional public schools will open as scheduled," the district said in a statment.
Florida State University’s Tallahassee and Panama City campuses will close and cancel classes Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, due to a significant high-impact and severe weather event that will affect the region tonight and Tuesday.
The closure begins at 11 p.m. ET Monday, Jan. 8, and will run until 11 p.m. ET, Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Due to anticipated inclement weather conditions, all Pasco-Hernando State College campuses will be closed on Tuesday, January 9. Normal operations are expected to resume on Wednesday, January 10 unless otherwise notified.
We will update this story as other schools announce their plans.