Cold woes again close Jefferson Co. schools

Jefferson County School District 509-J closed all schools for a second day Tuesday “due to continued problems with frozen water lines and bus issues.”

The Madras-based school district had planned a two-hour delay, in an announcement Monday evening, but updated it Tuesday morning with the cancellation as the thaw from Central Oregon’s frigid temperatures began — slowly.

Redmond schools, on the other hand, said that they planned to have all schools open as scheduled on Tuesday. And there were no reports of other school closures or delays.

The bitterly cold weather had prompted closure Monday of all Jefferson County, Redmond and Sisters schools, as well as La Pine, Sunriver and Culver schools and Terrebonne and Tumalo community schools.

The Redmond School District at first reported that Tumalo and Terrebonne community schools were closed Monday due to heating problems, while the other district schools are on a two-hour delay and AM kindergarten is canceled.

But just after 7 a.m. came word all Redmond schools would be shut for the day “due to cold weather issues and difficulties starting buses in the cold weather.”

The Bend-La Pine Schools at first reported a two-hour delay for classes in La Pine and Sunriver but later updated that to be a closure of those schools for the day “as extreme cold temperatures are negatively affecting our bus diesel.”

Culver schools also decided to close Monday, while Central Christian School in Redmond also has closed for the day, their Website confirmed.

The North Lake School District based in Silver Lake also announced it will be closed Monday due to the extreme cold and the impact on bus fuel. They expect to resume classes Tuesday.

Sisters Christian Academy informed us late Sunday they will be open with classes as usual on Monday.

And the schools are not alone — the La Pine Public Library was closed Monday due to frozen pipes, though they expect to reopen Tuesday. The downtown Bend Library, Redmond Library and Sisters Library are open for business, officials said.

If any other official announcements are available, please share them with us at stories@ktvz.com and we will pass them on to our on-air and online audience.

Stay tuned here for updates and turn to NewsChannel 21 tonight at 5 and 6 for the latest on this severe cold spell and the latest Local Alert Weather forecast from Travis Knudsen.

Several Eugene-area schools also have canceled classes early for Monday due to the weekend snowfall and cold in the Willamette Valley.