Schools Closed For College students Monday as Journey Circumstances Stay Unsafe

Updated with electronic mail despatched by MCPS to workers at 6:32pm on Sunday night

Montgomery County Public Schools introduced that every one faculties will stay closed to college students on Monday, February 2, 2026, whereas faculty system workplaces will open on time and workers are anticipated to report as they’d on an everyday non-instructional day.

MCPS mentioned faculty buildings themselves are able to reopen, however unsafe journey circumstances stay the first motive college students can’t return but. Snow and ice elimination from the current winter climate occasion has been sluggish, with Monday marking the primary day temperatures rise above freezing in 9 days. While crews have made progress, many neighborhood streets, sidewalks, and bus routes are nonetheless not secure.

Officials emphasised that circumstances don’t should be excellent to open faculties, however present circumstances fall quick of what’s required to securely transport college students. Post-plowing snow piles are creating visibility points and blocking entry to show lanes, whereas a number of main roadways stay partially obstructed, decreasing lanes and making peak journey occasions extra harmful.

MCPS outlined a number of key points stopping faculties from opening. Many neighborhood streets stay too slender and icy for buses to journey safely, with some barely satisfactory even for normal autos. Many sidewalks are nonetheless impassable, forcing walkers into busy roadways. About 20 p.c of scholars stroll to highschool and would not have entry to bus transportation. In addition, some college students with disabilities require door-to-door transportation as a part of their individualized training plans, which isn’t doable in sure neighborhoods because of present road circumstances.

The faculty system is asking the group to assist velocity progress towards reopening. Residents are inspired to take away autos from streets to permit wider plow paths and higher bus entry, clear sidewalks in entrance of their houses, and report roads that also want consideration via Montgomery County’s 311 service.

Bus riders are requested to overview routes to bus stops and assist clear snow or particles the place doable to help secure boarding and exiting. Walkers are inspired to make use of the extra day to plan safer routes to highschool if sidewalks stay blocked, protecting in thoughts that circumstances is probably not perfect for a number of days.

All childcare packages are permitted to function on an everyday schedule, although households are suggested to verify instantly with suppliers. MCPS workers are reminded that whereas parking heaps have been plowed, snow accumulation could restrict accessible areas. Staff are inspired to carpool if doable, enable further journey time, and use warning when parking. Grades for the second marking interval are due by the tip of the day Monday. Community use of college buildings could proceed as scheduled.

MCPS said that its objective is to reopen faculties on Tuesday, however emphasised that group help will probably be crucial to creating that occur safely.

Update: E-mail despatched by MCPS to workers at 6:32pm on Sunday: 

“Dear MCPS Employees,

This message clarifies MCPS operations for Monday, February 2, 2026. Under contract provisions and longstanding apply for related conditions, operations will proceed as follows:

CODE ORANGE – SCHOOLS CLOSED AND OFFICES OPEN On Time for Monday February 2.

• All faculties are closed
• School workplaces and central workplaces are open on time
• Emergency personnel report as directed
• MCPS sponsored faculty and group actions are canceled together with athletic practices and occasions
• Childcare packages could function as scheduled, households are inspired to contact their childcare supplier

Please observe: All grades will probably be due by the tip of the primary day faculties re-open, seemingly on Tuesday, February 3.

Sincerely,

Montgomery County Public Schools”