The arctic blast predicted for Tuesday, with windchills exceeding 60 degrees below zero, will give most Chicago-area students an extra day off.
In previous years, schools have closed because of heavy snows. But in this case, it was the prospect of brutally low temperatures that prompted school officials to make the rare decision to cancel classes.
“Our concern is for the safety of the kids waiting for buses and the children walking to school,” said Gerald Chapman, superintendent of Palatine-based Township High School District 211.
Neighboring districts-including Elgin Unit District 46, the state’s second largest with more than 30,000 students-followed suit.
Late Monday, the Chicago Public Schools announced that all of its schools will be closed Tuesday. Busing for regular and special-education programs will be canceled for the day, said schools spokeswoman Lauri Sanders. In addition, the system’s central office and its 11 district offices will open at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.
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All Catholic elementary schools in Cook and Lake Counties will be closed Tuesday, according to the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Catholic high schools will make closure decisions on a case-by-case basis, so parents were asked to listen for media notices or call schools.
Administrators at other districts stressed that parents had the discretion to keep their children home. “We will never second-guess parents,” said David Hendrix, superintendent of Hinsdale District 181. “If they feel that it is in the best interest of the child, by all means do it.”
Some districts left their options open. North Chicago Unit District 187 said schools probably would be open. The district is struggling to meet the state-mandated 180-day school calendar following a seven-week teachers strike.
“As it stands right now, we will be open Tuesday,” said Assistant Supt. James Walker, “but that could change by the morning.”