Anchorage schools closed Friday; most Mat-Su schools on remote learning

UPDATE - Friday, Dec. 16

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Anchorage School district will again be closed on Friday. The school system made the call on Thursday evening.

“Due to the additional snowfall and ice accumulation from last night’s storm, road conditions in our neighborhoods will not improve by tomorrow morning for safe travel to school,” the district wrote on Thursday evening. “The conditions will remain particularly hazardous for our student walkers and students at bus stops given road conditions and the enormous snow berms hampering visibility in our neighborhoods.”

ASD said a decision about after-school and rental facilities activities will be made by noon on Friday.

Most Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District schools will again be on remote learning on Friday, the district announced Thursday evening. However, Glacier View School, Willow Elementary, Talkeetna Elementary, Trapper Creek Elementary and Susitna Valley Jr/Sr High School will be open for in-person instruction.

An update on after-school activities will be provided at 11 a.m., the district said.

Prior story - Thursday, Dec. 15

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Multiple Southcentral Alaska school systems and other services have announced closures due to the latest winter storm.

The Anchorage School District on Wednesday evening made the call to cancel classes on Thursday.

Schools were already closed last week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and again on Monday.

In an email sent to parents shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, the district appears to have made the early call to close in the interest of safety.

“We are making the early call tonight due to current road conditions and forecasted hazardous weather conditions,” the email to parents said.

“All ASD schools and support facilities are closed tomorrow. Only emergency staff should report for duty, including all facilities and maintenance staff.”

In an update on Thursday morning, the school system wrote, “All after-school activities, except for state wrestling activities, are cancelled today. Facility rental activities are also cancelled.”

The district also said that unless otherwise announced, schools do plan to be open on Friday.

Anchorage public transportation service People Mover also canceled service on Thursday.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. The safety of our employees and riders is our top priority and we appreciate your understanding,” the service wrote on Facebook.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District will close school campuses on Thursday, opting instead for a remote learning day.

The MSBSD also said it will provide an update on scheduled afterschool activities tomorrow by 11 a.m.

The Anchorage and Palmer courts are closed Thursday except for emergency proceedings, according to Alaska Court System Public Information Officer Rebecca Koford. The Kowalke vs. Eastman case will be held through Zoom.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School and Lumen Christi High School will also be closed today.

Editor’s note: This article is being continually updated as closures are announced.

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