Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has announced the closure of all schools and offices on Monday and Tuesday due to icy conditions and snowfall from winter storm Fern, which impacted the region throughout Sunday. The school district operates under a CODE RED alert, indicating closures for all campuses as part of its emergency response protocol.
A winter storm warning is active for the entirety of the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area until 4 a.m. Monday, as reported by the National Weather Service. The status of schools for Wednesday will be determined and communicated by MCPS at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Monday was already designated as a non-instructional day for teachers to focus on grading and planning, as noted by MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor in a previous announcement. Given the severe weather conditions, the district committed to keep the community informed with updates, which culminated in the alert sent out at approximately 3 p.m. on Sunday.
In addition to informing the community of the closure, MCPS included a lighthearted music video featuring Superintendent Taylor and other district staff, highlighting Taylor’s penchant for using humor in communication. The video showcased Taylor performing a parody of Dr. Dre’s 1999 classic “Still D.R.E” with updated lyrics to reflect the school closure message, emphasizing the district’s proactive approach amid challenging weather conditions.
As the storm persists, the snow accumulation varied across the county, with areas like Damascus and Clarksburg receiving close to 7 inches, while Silver Spring saw approximately 4 inches of snow overnight. Temperatures on Sunday are projected to remain around 20 degrees, coupled with sub-zero wind chills, prompting the county to issue a cold emergency alert, effective until noon on Wednesday.
As the community braces for continued winter weather, the swift action by MCPS demonstrates its commitment to the safety and well-being of students and staff.