Updated Monday, February 2: MNPS and Williamson County Schools both announced they will remain closed on Monday, February 2, while Rutherford County Schools plans to reopen. MNPS Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle says the district will be switching a professional development day scheduled for February 16 to an in-class day to make up for Monday’s snow day. The district did not request a waiver from the state.¶
A spokesperson for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) says as of Thursday night, 17 schools were still without power, and another eight were experiencing partial outages due to Winter Storm Fern. The storm led school districts across the state, including MNPS, to cancel classes this week due to ice-related transportation challenges, power outages, and low temperatures.¶
MNPS Chief of Communications and Technology Sean Braisted says that at the peak of the storm’s impact, 71 schools experienced power outages.¶
“At this time, there have been no reports of major structural damage to any facilities as a result of the winter storm other than fallen trees and debris that is being removed,” said Braisted. “However, impacts from prolonged power outages and extreme cold across Nashville, including broken pipes, roof leaks, and HVAC issues, are being addressed as they are discovered.”¶
MNPS has not yet decided on school closings for next week. The district tells the Tennessee Firefly that school buildings are not equipped with the necessary infrastructure to stay warm and operate when the power is out.¶
Other large school districts, including Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Rutherford County Schools, and Williamson County Schools, also closed this week due to Winter Storm Fern.¶
State Waiver May Be Requested¶
Tennessee requires all public schools to provide 180 days of classroom instruction, and school districts typically schedule up to 13 “stockpile days” to use when classes need to be cancelled due to weather or other emergencies.¶
MNPS will have used all six of its allotted inclement-weather days for this school year by the end of today. If the district needs to cancel classes next week, it may request a waiver from the state for the 180-day requirement, as Governor Bill Lee has declared a State of Emergency.¶
“We are consulting with the Tennessee Department of Education to determine our waiver options available,” said Braisted.¶
State law allows districts to utilize remote learning in “extreme weather conditions,” but Braisted says those options “are not viable” currently because of power outages that have impacted more than 230,000 Nashville Electric Service customers since Sunday.¶
Choice School Application Delay¶
The school closures are also affecting the deadlines some families face to apply to attend public charter schools, magnet schools, and schools outside their zoned neighborhood.¶
MNPS announced Thursday that it plans to extend its Optional Schools application deadline to February 13 because of Winter Storm Fern, and the Tennessee Department of Education moved its Education Freedom Scholarship application deadline to February 6.¶
Rutherford County has not announced plans to extend its choice school application deadline beyond January 31. Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ Optional Schools Application process begins February 2, and Hamilton County Schools’ School Choice application process ends today.¶
