New York City Schools Closed Due to Snow
In light of the severe weather conditions and safety concerns, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani announced that public schools will be closed on Monday, with remote learning taking place as snowfall begins in the area.
“We’ve prepared for this situation over the past week, ensuring devices were ready, families kept informed, and educators set to teach online,” he mentioned in a post on X.
This announcement, made together with New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Chancellor Kamal Samuels, indicated that all NYCPS buildings would shut down on January 26th due to the extreme weather. Additionally, after-school programs, adult education, and other school activities are canceled, while most students will continue with remote instruction.
The change impacts about 500,000 students across more than 1,100 schools, although high school students and those in grades six to eight will have the day off as previously scheduled.
“Preparation is essential, especially now,” remarked Samuels. “We appreciate our school community’s hard work over the last few days, from testing procedures to securing buildings and getting ready for virtual classrooms. This was a tough decision, made with family safety in mind, and we value their understanding.”
According to reports, nearly 200 million people are currently under some form of winter weather warning, setting a new record for the number of U.S. counties experiencing such warnings simultaneously.
In New York, the heavy snow arrived in the city and surrounding areas by morning, with snowfall rates hitting up to two inches per hour from New Jersey to Long Island, as indicated by the FOX Prediction Center.
Governor Cathy Hochul urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, stay updated with local weather, and check on neighbors during this storm.
On a side note, it’s worth considering that while snow may pose challenges, some experts believe it can also present valuable downtime for kids, allowing them to unplug and enjoy a good old snowy day.
Earlier, Hochul had declared a state of emergency on Friday, emphasizing readiness to tackle road cleaning and power outages as they arise.
