Knox County Schools are once again closed, and today, the custodial and maintenance staff will return to campus to tackle the icy conditions left behind by the recent snow.
A weekend snowstorm blanketed Knoxville with between four to six inches of snow. While the main roads have been cleared, some secondary streets remain treacherous due to lingering ice. On February 2, custodians were not required to work, but they will now come in on a two-hour delay to prepare the schools for reopening.
Currently, students are expected to return on February 4, also with a two-hour delay.
Carly Harrington, a spokesperson for Knox County Schools (KCS), highlighted the dangers posed by "lingering snow and ice," particularly on hills and shaded areas along bus routes, which can make travel hazardous. She stated, "On our campuses, maintenance and custodial teams will report on a two-hour delay tomorrow to clear snow and ice from parking lots, sidewalks, entrances, and bus loading areas, while also checking building systems to ensure schools are safe and ready to operate," according to a statement provided to Knox News.
"KCS prioritizes the safety of both our staff and students. We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of our grounds crews, who will be preparing the campuses for a safe return of students," Harrington added.
Jim Snowden, the Director of Engineering and Public Works for Knox County, mentioned that the county supplies materials like bulk salt to KCS upon request. However, he noted that KCS has a substantial maintenance workforce capable of handling the clearing of school sidewalks and parking lots independently.
He explained, "They manage all the tasks off the right of way so that our teams can concentrate on clearing the primary roads. While we do assist occasionally when requested, typically, KCS handles their own operations without needing our help, barring a few supplies."
As of now, KCS has not requested assistance from the county for the clearing of school parking lots, but Snowden emphasizes that there is ongoing communication between KCS and county teams regarding road conditions and any potential needs for help.
According to Snowden's estimates from February 2, all major roads maintained by the county are in good condition, with about 80% of the key connectors cleared. However, he notes that approximately 30-40% of residential streets still remain covered in snow and ice.
The city of Knoxville's snow removal strategy does not extend to parking lots, but Public Service Director Rachel Butzler assured that crews manage to treat all roads "in an organized and methodical manner." She indicated that the streets surrounding schools within the city limits are passable.
KCS employs a uniform approach when it comes to school closures; if any part of the county is deemed unsafe, all schools will close. This policy takes into account the safety of roughly 30,000 children who depend on school buses for transportation.
This marks the fourth snow day for KCS this winter season, which allocates eight days in its calendar for potential weather-related disruptions or illness.
Other school districts throughout East Tennessee are also experiencing closures due to the weather. You can find a comprehensive list of these closures here.
In contrast, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville has managed to keep its campus open throughout the two winter storms, opting to transition classes to a virtual format on January 26-27 and again on February 2. The university has now announced a return to normal operations, as detailed on their social media platforms.
For more updates, you can follow Keenan Thomas, the higher education reporter for Knox News, via email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
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Stay informed and engaged! What are your thoughts on how KCS manages school closures during severe weather? Do you think they should implement changes, or do you agree with their current strategies? Let us know in the comments!
