Join Chalkbeat Tennessee’s free publication to maintain up with statewide training coverage and Memphis-Shelby County Colleges.
Memphis faculties will likely be closed once more Thursday regardless of the district formally operating out of built-in snow days for the yr.
College students in Memphis-Shelby County Colleges haven’t seen their lecture rooms since Friday, Jan. 23 on the eve of a weekend winter storm. The district has been shut down since then attributable to unsafe street circumstances attributable to persistent ice.
“Whereas circumstances are enhancing, many areas, together with residential streets, sidewalks, and bus stops stay impassable,” MSCS officers wrote in a social media submit Wednesday afternoon.
The district budgeted eight built-in days for inclement climate closures this yr. MSCS used all of them as of Wednesday. District leaders didn’t announce any plans for digital studying, which implies college students may face an prolonged faculty yr or shortened breaks to make up missed class time.
District officers haven’t introduced how Thursday’s faculty time will likely be made up.
MSCS may take up pre-planned skilled improvement days or apply for an emergency waiver from the Tennessee Division of Schooling. Different districts, together with Nashville, have mentioned they may use the upcoming President’s Day vacation to make up a day.
Ryhanna Graham, a junior at Whitehaven Excessive College, mentioned the district made the appropriate name to cancel Thursday – and she or he thinks faculties will shut on Friday, too.
“The roads have been unhealthy, and I dwell on a hill, so I wouldn’t have the ability to get to highschool safely,” she mentioned. “And lots of people don’t even have vehicles. Strolling on the ice, one thing unhealthy may occur.”
Graham mentioned she’s been finishing on-line assignments for her twin enrollment courses all through the break. However she hasn’t been ready to enter work at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, which is taking a toll on her checking account.
“And I take AP courses, the place our assessments are already scheduled,” she mentioned. “So after we get again, we actually need to put pen to paper.”
Tennessee faculty districts are ready to make use of as much as 5 digital studying days per semester attributable to weather-related closures. Graham mentioned she doesn’t like that possibility as a result of on-line courses can depart some college students behind.
However Angell Lawson, the mother or father of a freshman at Energy Heart Academy, mentioned the district ought to transition to digital studying after a pair days off.
“Dad and mom are going to be residence as effectively, and as of late need to be made up,” Lawson mentioned in an interview. “I really feel just like the transition again will likely be virtually like beginning over initially of the college yr. They’ll need to get acclimated once more.”
However Lawson acknowledges that on-line courses include logistical obstacles, like web and laptop entry. And it doesn’t remedy the issue of households who depend on faculty for youngster care and meals.
Graham, the MSCS junior, mentioned she hopes the district will take away scheduled spring break days as an alternative of pushing the college yr into the summer season.
Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Colleges for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Attain Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.
