OCPS is monitoring Hurricane Matthew, and has released the following statement about how the weather has schools on alert, but the district is working with National Weather Service to learn more about the hurricane:
Regarding Hurricane Matthew and any closure of Orange County Public Schools, when wind gusts are sustained at 35 mph, our busses cannot operate safely on the road, so that is one condition which would cause the closure of all schools in OCPS.
Other reasons include, but are not limited to, the severity of the rain, the timing of the strongest impact of rain or winds, and the tornado warning potential.
Michael Eugene, chief operations officer, indicates we work in conjunction with the National Weather Service in Melbourne, Fla., to obtain the scientific data needed to call for the cancellation of school, or the cancellation of afterschool activities.
We will alert you as conditions change, or if an alert is required. Certainly, contact us if you would like to. We are busy monitoring.
For continuing updates from OCPS and around the community regarding Hurricane Matthew, visit The Apopka Chief online.
