Ryder wrote in the Feb. 2 email that he participated in weather-related meetings the morning of Feb. 2, and the district does not “need to wait any longer to make these decisions.” In addition to all schools and facilities closing Feb. 3-4, all after-school activities are canceled the afternoon of Feb. 2. Ryder also asked parents to pick up their students who usually ride the bus home.
“We need everyone home as soon as possible this afternoon before the really bad weather hits,” Ryder wrote.
The announcement comes as the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for much of North Texas beginning as early as 3 p.m. Feb. 2 for some parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Rain is expected to transition to freezing rain, sleet and snow in large accumulations.
In the email, Ryder said the district will have to make up the instructional time lost due to the two bad weather days. The district is looking at three options: adding seven minutes to each school day starting Feb. 14 until the last day of school May 26; having classes Feb. 21, which was slated to be a holiday; or having the last day of school May 27 instead of May 26.
District leadership and the NISD board of trustees will discuss the options and let families know once a decision is made, Ryder wrote. A short survey will be emailed next week to parents for feedback on which option they prefer.
“We most definitely will not make everyone happy with the choice, but we will try to choose the option that will have the least impact as we respect our families’ personal commitments,” he wrote.
All district schools and buildings will reopen Feb. 7, according to the email.
