Rain, snow, ice combo closes hundreds of schools, some but not all offer remote learning

As snow and ice blended amid freezing rain to make slick roads and sidewalks, numerous suburban school districts switched to remote learning Tuesday.

“Freezing rain and icy conditions have made conditions too treacherous for driving and walking,” Downers Grove District 58 Superintendent Kevin Russell told parents in an email announcing schools were closed and E-learning would took place.

“Many of the roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are impassible at this time despite salt being applied. While we expect conditions to improve later today, it is simply too dangerous for the morning commute,” he said.

Similarly, Naperville Unit District 203 schools shifted to remote “due to the difficult travel conditions caused by ice accumulation on roads, sidewalks and parking lots,” officials said.

Elgin Area School District U-46 administrators also closed schools due to ice and at the recommendation of the Kane County sheriff’s office. U-46 was not offering E-learning Tuesday but the school year will be extended to make up for the lost day.

However at Northwest Suburban High School District 214, classes continued as usual.

The National Weather Service warned of a hazardous outlook with freezing rain through the morning “leading to accumulations of ice on untreated roads and sidewalks.” Dense fog was expected to develop in the afternoon and continue overnight.