Needham Public Schools Closed Tuesday

[UPDATE Tuesday, 5:35 a.m.]

Needham Public Schools will remain closed on Tuesday, Oct. 30, as town crews and local residents work to clean up after Hurricane Sandy.

Superintendent Dan Gutekanst sent out this announcement in an email early Tuesday morning:

As you may know by now, school has been canceled in Needham today, Tuesday, October 30th. I made the decision after driving around town early this morning and after consulting with public safety folks. While most of the town is safe and has power, there are isolated areas of no power, including one or two key intersections. In addition, downed lines on a couple of elementary school sidewalks and near High Rock and Pollard will make some, part, or all of those campuses inaccessible until work crews take care of limbs and lines.

When I was at the scene of these downed lines at 4:00 this morning, there were no signs of any utility trucks working, so I have assumed they will not be working in time for a safe, orderly, and trouble free morning commute.

Like you, I am very disappointed we are not having school today, but I had to act with an abundance of caution.

I hope our students will take every opportunity to catch up on schoolwork and spend some time reading today in preparation for a full day of classes tomorrow.

St. Sebastians School will be open but will follow Schedule E with Corporate Chapel followed by normal Tuesday J period activities, including Junior Chapel and Grade 8 and 12 Class Meetings, according to the school website.

St. Joseph Elementary School and James J. Haddad Middle School are both open but scheduled for an early dismissal today at 12:30 p.m., according to the parish website.

Know of other closures today? Share them in the comments below or email becca.manning@patch.com.