As water levels in the area rose, flooding local roads, schools across districts throughout Athens County closed yesterday because of high waters.
We started with a two-hour delay and then school was canceled. There was too much water
said Jim Patsey, Federal Hocking Local School District superintendent said. The back roads were not accessible.
Before calling off a day of school for flood waters, Pat Tabler, transportation supervisor for the district, watches weather reports and talks to other officials, Patsey said. Tabler then makes his recommendation, which Patsey uses to decide whether to cancel school for the day.
Nelsonville City School District also canceled classes yesterday because of flooded roads in the area.
The process for calling off school in Nelsonville City School District is similar to the one used in Federal Hocking.
Our procedure is we have people that check the road said Ted Bayat, Nelsonville-York City School District superintendent. And our decision is always -I mean always -what we feel is the best decision for our students and our staff.
Patsey said he was not surprised by the recent cancellations.
Flooding can occur anytime during the school year and it's usual for us to call off school in the first two weeks of January
he said.
While the chances of school cancellations today are good, the chance of schools actually experiencing flood damage is extremely unlikely, Patsey, who can see the floodwaters from below his office window, said.
Chauncey Elementary School in the Athens City School District was closed Wednesday and yesterday, but the rest of the schools in the district remained open. Chauncey was closed because the surrounding areas are flooded, and it was not safe to get to the school, said Carl Martin, the Athens City School District superintendent.
Athens High School in The Plains remained opened Wednesday and yesterday for the students who could make it to class, said Athens High School Principal Mike Meek.
The only problem is the (the students) in the low-lying areas that can't get to school
Meek said. We excuse their absences and let them make up the work. I know the Chauncey area is low-lying
and it gets blocked off because of the flooding.
Patsey said he hoped school would resume today without problems from floodwaters, but he could not say for sure. Martin said he would decide to call off school by 6 a.m. today.
-Emily Petro contributed to this story.
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