KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County Schools Board of Education met Thursday after several parents said they were frustrated with short notice that school would close due to high winds earlier in the week. Many said they were told at around 12:15 p.m. that students would be sent home at around 1 p.m.
"Early dismissals are always disruptive. We acknowledge that and apologize that that happens," said Superintendent Jon Rysewyk. "It always inconveniences people at work. We understand that."
On Thursday, KCS also announced that schools would be closed Friday as another weather system moved into East Tennessee, bringing strong winds and rain. Since the ground was already saturated from rain, the system caused concerns of trees toppling.
Rysewyk said closures are usually prompted by weather elements like ice, snow or flooding. This week, the school district had to work with a new factor — wind.
"Wind was extremely high," he said. "We have to communicate, obviously, with the board, with principals, with our bus contractors."
He said KCS leaders were monitoring reports from the National Weather Service since Monday night. He said they were looking at wind updates up to 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, before making the final call. The decision to close schools ultimately came down to a forecast of heavy winds, reaching around 90 mph in the mountains of East Tennessee.
"Our sole factor was looking at buses, which, you know, high-profile vehicles with wind," said Rysewyk.
He said the school district uses ParentSquare, a kind of software, to send alerts to families about school changes. This week, he said the alerts came with a glitch adding a longer delivery time.