Update: Classes are canceled Tuesday due to Hurricane Sally, NOLA-PS announced Monday afternoon. All school buildings and the district’s central office will be closed.
The return to in-person learning for PreK through fourth-grade was originally set for Monday. The district said in a press release that they will “monitor the evolving weather situation” and make a decision at a later time.
Food services will not be available to families during Tuesday’s closure.
NOLA-PS Delays In-Person Classes Due To Tropical Storm Sally
New Orleans public school students will continue with virtual learning until at least the middle of next week, the district announced Sunday afternoon.
This time the decision to postpone in-person classes had nothing to do with the coronavirus and instead was due to Tropical Storm Sally, which is expected to hit the city Tuesday.
Sally could make landfall as a Category 2 Hurricane and bring prolonged storm surge of 7 to 11 feet. Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on Saturday and Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents living outside of the city’s levee protection system effective Sunday at 6 pm.
The start of in-person classes for public school students continues to be a moving target. PreK through fourth-grade were expected to begin returning to the classroom this coming week. Now, thanks to Tropical Storm Sally, those students will have to learn at home for a few more days or possibly longer.
Over the next 24 hours, the district said it will monitor Sally and decide whether it’s necessary to close schools entirely, cancelling meal distribution and suspending online learning.