Burke Schools on 2-hour delay; County offices on 1-hour delay, School for the Deaf closed

Burke's public institutions on Thursday proactively adjusted Friday's operating schedules in anticipation of a mix of winter weather impacting the area this morning.

We didn't wake up to a winter wonderland today, but some offices and schools are keeping their 

Regardless, it was better to be safe than sorry.

Burke County schools will operate on a two-hour delay Friday.

Although the district usually waits to see what the weather looks like once it arrives, they announced the decision the night before to give parents a head-start on morning plans.

“The first school bus cranks at 4:50 a.m., and we work to have a final decision made by then,” BCPS Public Relations Officer Cheryl Shuffler said. “In some cases, we can decide the night before. However, weather forecasts can change quickly and are not always precise.”

To prepare a decision, the administrators consult the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Charlotte TV stations, and various other local meteorologists and law enforcement.

Shuffler said BCPS also sends a team out driving to investigate roads across the county, taking into account car riders, buses, and student drivers with little to no experience as they survey the winding backroads.

The landscape of the county varies dramatically. From Glen Alpine to Hildebran, Shuffler says road conditions, temperatures, and when and if students can get back and forth between school safely dictates the final decision.

BCPS often can’t make a final decision until enough information is gathered, which is sometimes at the last minute.

“We understand families want to know as early as possible, and this may be unpopular, but sometimes it is necessary to wait and see what the weather actually does or doesn’t do before we make a decision,” Shuffler said.

When the district makes a decision, they start notifying families immediately through the website, social media, Finalsite all-call messaging system, ClassDojo, and local and regional media.

“No news or notification usually means school is on a regular schedule,” she said.

Burke County government offices will open one hour later than usual, according to a short news brief from county staff.

Offices that normally open at 8 a.m. will open at 9 a.m., and Meals on Wheels deliveries will also start one hour later than usual.

The Town of Valdese is on a two-hour delay. 

The N.C. School for the Deaf  announced on its website and on Facebook that the campus will be closed to students all day on Friday.

It will be an optional workday for staff, and with supervisor approval, telework will be available to applicable staff.