Richardson ISD families, we hope you are staying warm and safe. With the continued safety of our students and staff as our top priority, and out of an abundance of caution, Richardson ISD schools and offices will remain closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 29.
While above-freezing temperatures have led to some improvement in road conditions, additional thawing is still needed on neighborhood streets and on our campuses to ensure safe travel for students and staff.
See photos of the status of some of our schools here.
This closure includes all district operations, including Xplore. Additional details regarding athletic practices, scheduled games, and fine arts rehearsals and performances for Thursday will be shared by coaches and directors once plans are finalized.
This decision was made after careful consideration of the following factors:
- Significant amounts of ice and snow remain at many campuses, impacting sidewalks and parking lots.
- Neighborhood streets and parking lots across the district have not fully cleared, creating safety concerns for buses and student drivers.
- A large number of staff members commute from outside the district, and current conditions may make it unsafe to travel and fully staff campuses.
- We are unable to implement a delayed start due to a tiered system for our bus operations.
- Although our facilities teams have been working around the clock this past week, they continue to inspect our buildings for any storm related damage and clean up as the thawing continues.
- Richardson ISD covers 46 square miles. A full closure is required whenever safe travel cannot be ensured on all roads and throughout every neighborhood.
We recognize that this decision may create challenges for some families as parents return to work; however, the safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority.
Thank you for your flexibility as we work through these wintry conditions together. We will share information about potential make-up days as soon as it is available. Until then, please stay safe and warm and continue to check the district website and social media for updates.
