School Closings: Dallas, Fort Worth ISDs to close due to weather. See the full list
DALLAS - Dallas and Fort Worth ISDs are among several school districts in North Texas to close schools because of the winter weather.
Dallas and Fort Worth ISD schools will be closed on both Thursday, Jan. 9 and Friday, Jan. 10. Athletics and after-school events are also canceled.
LIST: Winter Weather Closings
Current School Closings
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Snow in Dallas
Things will be mostly dry with highs in the low 40s on Wednesday. But the forecast calls for a mix of snow, sleet and rain throughout the day on Thursday. Northern areas are more likely to see snow, while southern areas will experience mostly rain.
Then after sunset on Thursday, the wintry mix transitions into snow, with heavier snow anticipated north and northeast of Dallas. Snowfall predictions are 1 to 3 inches in the DFW area, with 3 to 6 inches in the northern and northeastern parts of the Metroplex.
The National Weather Service has upgraded the Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning for most of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex through Friday.
MORE: Dallas-Fort Worth Weather Forecast
How schools decide when to close
Most schools across the Metroplex, including Dallas and Fort Worth ISD, have already announced cancelations for Thursday and Friday.
DISD is home to more than 20,000 employees.
Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde says she and other North Texas superintendents made the collaborative decision Wednesday to cancel classes for the rest of the week.
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"They may be an employee with Dallas ISD, but they may live in a neighboring school district. So if we are closed and they are open or vice versa, that creates some challenges for our entire community," she said. "No matter what we decide, someone will think there is a better decision. We will always air on the side everyone is safe."
Dallas ISD weighed factors including building infrastructure, like the potential for pipe leaks along with sidewalk safety and road conditions.
"If there is any type of ice, we all know that is extremely dangerous," said Elizalde. "No matter how prepared we are, we don’t want our drivers to have to deal with it."
Superintendents are also keeping in mind that if the roads are safe, they need to prioritize kids being in the classroom — both from an educational standpoint as well as not hindering parent work schedules.
"We need our students in class. We need them in school where we know that they are learning and growing," said Richardson ISD Superintendent Tabitha Branum. "However, when we know that there is a potential for bad weather, safety has to be a consideration. We want to ensure that our students and our staff and our community and our families are safe getting to and from school."
Some school districts are waiting until Thursday to make a decision about school on Friday.