Thursday school closures or delays due to weather

Some area schools are closing or are starting late Thursday due to a severe weather threat.

BAY COUNTY:

After working closely with area meteorologists and emergency management officials, BDS has made the decision to open schools on Thursday (3/31/22) on a three-hour delayed start schedule. We believe the bad weather will have passed through our area by early morning Thursday which will allow our buses and other drivers to commute safely later in the morning. While we know ANY changes to our schedule can be inconvenient for our community, we also take our safety priority very seriously and will always err on the side of protecting students and staff. We do not know if the missed instructional time will have to be made up but when we hear from the DOE on that topic we will share. We do know that many parents/guardians find a delayed start schedule just as inconvenient as a school cancellation but there’s no way for us to please everyone when severe weather prompts an adjustment to our schedule. We hope that the delayed schedule will enable us to avoid having to continue the 2021-2022 school year after the currently-scheduled last day of school (before Memorial Day). To clarify, Thursday’s schedule is a normal schedule PLUS THREE HOURS for the start time but release times will remain the same. So if a student normally gets picked up by the bus at 6:15 a.m., that student will get picked up on Thursday at 9:15 a.m. but will get off the bus in the afternoon at the normal time. If a student’s school normally begins at 8:15 a.m., that school will begin at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday only. All afternoon release times remain the same. Lunch will be served as usual. School start times vary throughout our community with some combination schools and special service centers operating on individualized schedules. Most elementary schools begin at 7:30 a.m. and will begin Thursday at 10:30 a.m., most middle schools begin at 9 a.m. and will begin Thursday at noon and most high schools begin at 8:15 a.m. and will open Thursday at 11:15 a.m. If you have questions about your child’s schedule you can find the regular start time at https://www.bay.k12.fl.us/start-end-times. Bus riders need to add exactly three hours to their normal pick times. All employees will report to work three hours after their normal reporting times. All afternoon release times remain unchanged for all BDS schools. Charter schools operate independently and set their own schedules. Any charter parents should consult their individual schools to find out if tomorrow’s plans are being adjusted.

Due to the severe weather predicted to impact our service district overnight, Gulf Coast State College will delay opening for employees and students until 9:30am CST (10:30am EST) tomorrow (3/31/22). If students or employees cannot travel safely tomorrow, please contact your supervisor or professor directly.
Due to upcoming weather concerns, Haney Technical College classes for Thursday, March 31st will roll to distance learning. Students MUST complete their work online or be counted absent. Haney staff and students, please check your emails for more details.

CALHOUN COUNTY:

Calhoun County schools will be closed Thursday. Classes will resume Friday.

GULF COUNTY:
Good evening. This is Supt. Jim Norton. All Gulf County Schools will be closed tomorrow, March 31 due to inclement weather. As always, the safety of our students and staff is our first priority. It is simply too hazardous for our buses to cross over bridges during heavy rains and high winds. Again, all schools will be closed tomorrow, March 31. Schools will reopen Friday.

HOLMES COUNTY:

Out of an abundance of caution due to potential severe weather, Holmes District Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Thursday morning, March 31. Bus routes will begin 2 hours later than usual, and employees will report to work 2 hours later than their usual start time. VPK will run until 1:00 p.m. on Thursday instead of the usual 11:00 a.m. dismissal. All other classes will dismiss at the normal time.

JACKSON COUNTY:
IMPORTANT NOTICE- after advisement from Emergency Management concerning severe weather, the decision has been made that school and offices will be CLOSED tomorrow, March 31. The Special Board Meeting scheduled for 4:30 will still be held.

LIBERTY COUNTY:

Liberty County Schools will be closed tomorrow due to the possibility of severe weather at student school bus pick up time.

OKALOOSA COUNTY:
Okaloosa County School District has made the decision to delay school start times by one hour on Thursday, March 31st to ensure safe transportation for our earliest bus routes. The student start time for all schools will be adjusted due to the availability of bus transportation. Schools will release at their regular release times.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

Washington County Schools are closed tomorrow due to the threat of inclement weather. All personnel.