Snow Day pushes up winter break for PSD

Students were out of school for several days, power was out to thousands of Polk County residents and officials from public safety and public works departments remained busy through a busy weekend of snow in Polk County.

Snow r emained i n patches through the week and into press time in shady spots of Polk County as temperatures rained chilly all week and school remained closed until Wednesday last week.

That resulted on school officials deciding t o change up plans for the return of faculty and youth coming back from winter break that starts this Friday at the end of the day.

Instead of allowing students to come back after teachers begin in the classroom on Jan. 8, 2017, the Polk School District will begin classes from the winter break on that day for everyone.

“I appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding,” Superintendent Laurie Atkins said. “Our PSD family’s safety, students and faculty, is our No. 1 priority.”

Winter break now ends on Jan. 5, with a weekend in between the Monday students come back.

As schools figured out their plans to make up a snow day last week, municipal leaders were praising their department’s responses to the snowstorm.

Cedartown and county officials all had positive comments about the work their police, fire and public works departments provided to ensure the roads were clear and people stayed safe during the winter weather.

At one point during the weekend, water pumps lost power and caused a drop in pressure for the water system, and power remained out for a number of customers through Monday. It wasn’t fully restored to all customers until midweek.