UPDATE: Rogers ISD Superintendent Joe Craig announced Monday evening that the district has cancelled school for Tuesday and Wednessday.


 

Both Temple and Belton ISD announced Monday afternoon that they will suspend online learning Tuesday and Wednesday due to the extreme winter weather and blackout conditions.

Both districts are taking the Texas Education Agency up on a waiver offered for those days. According to the TEA, and school district experiencing widespread power outages due to the weather is eligible to cancel classes without being required to schedule make-up days.

Both districts had planned for the first few days of the week to be virtual learning days, but obviously that will be an impossibility for many students whose homes are experiencing power outages.

"We will communicate details regarding Thursday when we receive better information," Temple ISD's announcement read. "Stay safe."

"All campuses and district offices will remain closed during this time period," Belton's announcement read. "We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide timely updates through our website, social media and email. Please stay safe, Big Red Community!"

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As we receive word of more local districts opting in to the TEA waiver, we will update this article. You should keep an eye out for alerts from your child's district via email and social media as well.

Killeen ISD had already suspended online learning for Monday and Tuesday, but had also encouraged students with internet access to take advantage of optional online activities if interested.

Many in our listening area are experiencing rolling blackouts or have been without power since Sunday.

ERCOT announced earlier today that rolling blackouts could continue into Tuesday as more demand is placed on electrical grids.

You can help by conserving as much energy as possible. Keep your thermostat at 68F or below and try not to use any large appliances like washers and dryers. Keep curtains drawn and blinds closed to help preserve heat in your home that might otherwise be lost through windows.

If you are in need of warm shelter, there are warming centers operating in Temple, Killeen, and Copperas Cove.

We highly recommend you stay inside and not drive anywhere unless you absolutely have to. Road conditions continue to be extremely hazerdous.

Make sure you bring pets inside or provide insulated, dry shelter out of the wind for them. Make sure no snow can tumble into it, and that melting snow and ice won't trickle into it.

KEEP READING: Get answers to 51 of the most frequently asked weather questions...

 

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