Area school districts are canceling classes due to the ongoing impact from this week’s winter storm.
Lake Travis ISD has canceled all classes with a decision pending on instruction for Feb. 19, and Eanes ISD has canceled all classes for Feb. 17. A decision is pending from EISD concerning classes Feb. 18.
Of particular concern is not just the hazardous roadways and extreme cold temperatures in western Travis County, but also the availability of electricity and internet service, EISD Superintendent Tom Leonard said in a written statement posted on the EISD website.
“We are hearing from multiple parents and staff members that they have no Internet and in some cases are without electricity,” he said. “In addition, the district’s Internet provider has informed us that core Internet connectivity is being compromised throughout the area. All of this means that even if all have Internet access, many of our online curricular materials may be unavailable.”
Meanwhile, LTISD, in choosing to cancel all instruction until Feb. 18, noted in an email sent to parents just after 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 that there is a possibility that continued winter storms the evening of Feb. 17 could cause further disruption to school.
The school district is monitoring conditions and conferring with local government officials as the weather situation changes, LTISD Superintendent Paul Norton said.
“In the meantime, please check individual campus websites and monitor email and/or social media postings for additional announcements,” he said.
The website for Eanes ISD is www.eanesisd.net, and the Lake Travis website is at www.ltisdschools.org.
As of 2 p.m. Feb. 15, the National Weather Service was forecasting a 30% chance of freezing rain Feb. 17, turning to a 20% chance of snow that night. A low temperature of 3 degrees is expected overnight Feb. 15 and into the early morning of Feb. 16 for west Travis County.
