UPDATE: Low temperatures, freezing rain close some Acadiana schools
UPDATE: 8 p.m. After further consultation with the Office of Emergency Preparedness and latest reports from the National Weather Service, all St. Landry Parish School Board schools, Head Start centers, and administrative offices will be closed Friday. Students will not have remote learning.
UPDATE: 5:22 p.m. All Lafayette Parish schools and facilities will be closed Friday. There will be no virtual classes.
Original:
Acadiana school leaders are taking the major cold front making its way across the region into account as they make decisions about classes Friday.
With freezing temperatures expected overnight, any precipitation falling after midnight could be sleet or freezing rain, according to the latest National Weather Service update.
Schools on the western side of the region are closing, as superintendents for Acadia, Vermilion and Jefferson Davis parishes announced Thursday afternoon.
"Out of an abundance of caution based on the most recent cold weather forecast and due to the possibility of unsafe driving conditions in the morning, the Acadia Parish School System will be closed Friday," Superintendent Scott Richard said in a message to families.
Operations will resume Monday.
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Vermilion Parish schools also will close completely, taking an "emergency day" rather than a virtual learning day, Superintendent Tommy Byler said.
"While much of our parish may not see icy conditions, the bottom half of our parish is expected to have frozen precipitation well into the time our buses would be on the road," Byler said in a message to families. "Therefore we will err on the side of caution."
Next-door in Jefferson Davis Parish students will learn remotely, Superintendent Kirk Credeur announced Thursday afternoon.
"Significant rainfall last night and ongoing light rain has produced standing water on bridges and overpasses," Credeur said in his message. "Fall morning temperatures in conjunction with standing water and wind gusts up to 30 mph will result in frozen bridges and overpasses which makes transporting students and traveling for employees too dangerous."
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Extracurricular activities scheduled after 1 p.m. Friday will be allowed.
St. Mary Parish schools will be open Friday, officials announced Thursday.
This list will be updated as more information from other school districts becomes available.
Contact children's issues reporter Leigh Guidry at Lguidry@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @LeighGGuidry.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Threat of freezing rain closes some Acadiana schools Friday
