DORAVILLE, Ga. – Two school districts and multiple colleges have been impacted after Buford Highway shut down in both directions following a massive water main break.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS |
City Schools of Decatur announced on Facebook Wednesday all schools will be closed due to the impact of the water main break.
Sponsors of athletic and after-school activities will contact participants after they evaluate conditions this afternoon.
All campuses in the DeKalb County School System will release early due to the impact of the water main break.
Early release times are as follow:
- Elementary Schools: 10 a.m.
- High Schools: 11:15 a.m.
- Middle Schools: 12:15 p.m.
“The health and safety of our students is always the top priority. The impact of the water main break and repairs makes early release the most prudent route,” said Superintendent/CEO R. Stephen Green.
All DeKalb County Schools athletic events scheduled for Wednesday are being postponed due to the closing of school.
DeKalb County Schools officials will make a decision about whether schools will resume on Thursday during a meeting at 4 p.m. By 6 p.m., the district announced they would reopen schools to students for the March 8 school day.
“We have been in constant dialogue with our partners at DeKalb County and the DeKalb County Board of Health. Following that consultation, we will reopen our campuses while taking great care to ensure we have a healthy learning environment,” said Superintendent R. Stephen Green.
Parents praised school leaders for over-communicating about the plan to close school early.
"I got some emails from DeKalb County of early release, they were having early release today, then the school started sending e-mails and texts," Jennifer De Soto told 11Alive.
Another parent said her child's teacher call them directly to make sure they were fully informed of the situation.
The question lingers whether the students will have to make up the school day and DeKalb County said they're already working on their second virtual learning assignment from one of their snow days.
COLLEGE CAMPUSES |
Agnes Scott College will be closed today and will make the decision to reopen tomorrow later in the day.
Emory University's North Druid Hills Campus will be closing at 10 a.m. due to the water main break. The low/no-water situation did not affect the Yerkes Gwinnett or Oxford College campuses which will remain open.
Emory Healthcare employees should refer to the EHC intranet and to emails from Emory Healthcare for information on operations and procedures.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College will remain closed at both the DeKalb Campus and Starnes Center. The South DeKalb Campus will remain open with classes being held as scheduled.
Georgia State University's Clarkston and Dunwoody campuses closed at 10 a.m. after the water main break.
Early Wednesday morning, blockades have been put up on Buford Highway just north of Interstate 285 between Longmire Way and McElroy Road for a water main break.
Hear from DeKalb officials as they give updates following the water main break:
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