Fairfax Schools Change Friday Schedule Because Of Winter Weather

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Schools has delayed the opening of all schools on Friday by two hours, according to a post on the FCPS website. Additionally, some programs and afterschool activities have also been delayed or canceled.

"Because of the uncertainty of the forecast, FCPS will monitor the weather and reevaluate in the morning if we need to adjust to a closure," FCPS said. "If there is a change, we will notify our staff and community as soon as possible."

A winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service at 4:36 a.m on Friday for Northern Virginia, central Maryland, and Washington, D.C. prompted FCPS to alter its schedule.

The Baltimore-Washington region can expect to see snow accumulations of about 1 inch, which could potentially cause icy conditions during the morning commute, according to the NWS forecast.

"Given temperatures will be in the 20s, snow is expected to accumulate on all untreated surfaces.A light snow will overspread the advisory area, with slightly higher amounts possible in any banding feature," according to NWS. As snow winds down, a light freezing drizzle is possible into the afternoon."

The winter weather advisory will remain in effect until 4 p.m. on Friday.

The following is the full text of the alert FCPS posted to its website on Friday morning.

All FCPS schools and central offices will open two hours late Friday, December 5. This means all schools will begin two hours after their regularly scheduled start times.

Because of the uncertainty of the forecast, FCPS will monitor the weather and reevaluate in the morning if we need to adjust to a closure. If there is a change, we will notify our staff and community as soon as possible.

As always, please make sure that students are dressed warmly on their way to and from school.
Central and school office 12-month employees must report to work in person no later than 10 a.m. In accordance with Regulation 4417, telework-eligible employees may telework or take unscheduled leave. Please check in with your supervisor to report your status. Central offices will open to the public at 10 a.m.

The following in schools and on school grounds are canceled or delayed:

• Morning preschool and special education classes are canceled.
• Full-day preschool, special education, and Early Head Start/PreK classes start two hours later than the regular schedule.
• Morning field trips are canceled.
• Morning transportation for high school academy classes is canceled. Transportation will be provided for academy classes that start after 12:45 p.m.
• Adult High School and GED courses will start two hours later than the regular schedule.
• Homebound instruction will begin at 10 a.m.

School Age Child Care (SACC) and Beyond the Bell (BTB) centers will open at 8 a.m. Afternoon preschool classes start on their regular schedule and Adult and Community Education (ACE) classes will start on time.