The power has been restored at H.B. Whitehorne and Verona High School, but that wasn’t enough to get Verona’s public school students back in school for Friday, March 9. Superintendent Dr. Rui Dionisio has announced that all Verona public schools will be closed for a third day.
Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, and Community Members,
Despite the incredible efforts of the Verona Public Schools Maintenance and Custodial staff, Verona Public Works, Verona Police Department and Emergency Personnel, and numerous volunteers and supporters, the Verona Public Schools will remain closed on Friday, March 9, 2018 due to safety issues.
Currently, all Verona Public Schools have access to electricity and heat and have been cleared of snow. However, additional fallen trees and down wires in numerous locations around town make traversing with students, parents, and staff tomorrow morning extremely unsafe. We have been in close communication with the Verona Police Department and this decision has been made in collaboration to ensure everyone’s safety and to get our township up an running as soon as possible. As of today, VPS has used all of the allotted snow days. Tomorrow’s school closing will require modification to the district calendar for the Spring Break in April 2018. Details to follow.
Since yesterday afternoon, 124 locations in Verona have experienced down wires. According to reports from PSEG, approximately 2,200 households have been affected with loss of power. Current reports from PSEG has shared that power has been restored to 2,000 of those households with efforts to replace electricity in all homes as soon as possible.
I would like to extend our gratitude for the efforts of our VPS staff and the Verona Township, specifically the Verona Police Department and Verona Public Works, for keeping us safe and getting our community back to normal as quickly as possible. I encourage any family that is experiencing any hardship to contact your building principal so we may make do our best to support your family while we get our community back to normal.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rui Dionisio
Superintendent of Schools
Despite everyone’s best efforts we must close school tomorrow. We have power & heat in all schools. Staff and Public Works did amazing job. Fallen trees & down wires numerous locations make traversing w students & staff unsafe. Start spreading the news. Email to follow pic.twitter.com/XcSTuPB2de
— Dr. Rui Dionisio (@VeronaSuper) March 9, 2018
