ACS Winter Weather Updates

January 19, 2024 | 2 p.m.

Please be advised we are moving forward with the Marshall County Tournament. The schedule, bracket and location will be announced later today.  

After consulting with superintendents across the county, road reports in Guntersville, Arab and other parts of the county came back favorable this afternoon, which clears the way for playing tomorrow. 

Again, the Marshall County Tournament will resume play tomorrow, January 20th.  More details will be shared soon.

Dr. Bart Reeves, Superintendent

---------------------

January 19, 2024 | 6:44 p.m.

Aggie Family,


Please be advised Albertville City Schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 19.

Earlier this afternoon, we conducted a survey among administrators at each school to assess the count of employees residing in the Guntersville and Arab area, particularly in regions experiencing more severe winter weather conditions. It has been identified that ACS has over 70 employees residing in the most affected areas of the winter storm. Given the associated risks and challenges in commuting to work under these conditions, ACS will remain closed tomorrow, Friday, January 19th. 

The Marshall County Basketball Tournament is also postponed tomorrow and we will make a final decision on completing it tomorrow afternoon and no later than 2pm.  

With all of this in mind: 

  • ACS plans to resume school on Monday, January 22nd at its normal time.  
  • A final decision regarding the Marshall County Basketball Tournament will be made tomorrow no later than 2 p.m.  

Once again, ACS will remain closed on Friday, Jan. 19, due to the number of employees who live in the affected area.  

Parents, please know we were looking forward to returning to school tomorrow and many of you will be pleased with this decision while others will not.  Trust me, I get it. But at this time,  I believe it is best to close school tomorrow and start Monday to finish off the year strong.  

Stay safe and stay warm and thank you for your flexibility, patience and understanding.

Sincerely,

Bart Reeves

_____________________________________
 
January 17, 2024 | 3:24 p.m.

Aggie Family, 

Please be advised Albertville City Schools will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 18.

While there have been some improvements in the roads in our area this afternoon, we still have icy patches in shaded areas that are unlikely to improve by tomorrow. The areas that have thawed or are in the process of thawing will refreeze, especially with temperatures dropping into the teens tonight. 

Also, ACS personnel have assessed many of our questionable roads today and we cannot in good conscience open school tomorrow. Plus, we have many employees who travel from neighboring counties and on rural roads, which also remain an issue.  

The Marshall County Basketball Tournament is also postponed with plans to resume on Friday and finish on Monday. However, please be advised confidence is decreasing that we will be able to complete the tournament. This uncertainty stems from EMA reports indicating challenging road conditions in rural areas of the county that may last into the weekend and the latest update from the National Weather Service forecasting a combination of rain and freezing temperatures Thursday into Friday.

According to the National Weather Service update this afternoon, there is a forecast of a 50 to 80% chance of rain entering the area Thursday night. This precipitation, coupled with temperatures expected to drop into the low 20s, could result in further hazardous driving conditions. As always, we will be sure to keep you informed. 

Also, the January ACS Board Meeting is still scheduled for Thursday evening at 5 p.m. 

With all of this in mind:

  • A decision regarding school operations for Friday will be made no later than 6 p.m. tomorrow. This decision will be based on road improvements Thursday.
  • In the event that weather and road conditions allow ACS to open on Friday, I am anticipating a delay so that ACS personnel can evaluate the roads and allow time for ice to melt.
  • A decision regarding the Marshall County Basketball Tournament will be made no later than 6 p.m. tomorrow.  
And finally, I want to thank our employees for checking the schools, buses and other critical areas today in preparation for a return to school. 

Once again, ACS will remain closed on Thursday, Jan. 18, due to the high confidence of hazardous road conditions.  

For further updates on school decisions, please refer to official ACS social media channels and the website. 

Stay safe and warm.

Dr. Reeves

_____________________________________
 
January 16, 2024 | 12:00 p.m.

Aggie Family,

Please be advised Albertville City Schools will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 17.

After consulting with Marshall County EMA and the NWS, it has been determined that temperatures will not rise above freezing and is expected to extend traveling issues into tomorrow and possibly Thursday.  EMA has also reported that treated roads today are already experiencing refreezing.

The Marshall County Basketball Tournament is also postponed with plans to resume on Thursday and finish on Saturday. If we are not in school on Thursday, then we will proceed with resuming the tournament on Friday and possibly finishing on Monday.  

The January ACS Board Meeting scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled for Thursday evening at 5 p.m. 

And to make you fully aware, the NWS has informed us that another system is entering our area Thursday night that could bring more frozen precipitation.  

With that in mind: 

  • A decision regarding school operations for Thursday will be made no later than 6 p.m. tomorrow. This decision will be based on road improvements Wednesday. 
  • In the event that weather and road conditions allow ACS to open on Thursday, I am not anticipating a delay with a low of 31 degrees at this time.
  • We should be able to start at our normal time provided personnel can get into the building before Thursday morning to check for any frozen pipes and ensure they are functioning properly. 
A decision regarding the Marshall County Basketball Tournament will be made no later than 6 p.m. tomorrow.  

Once again, ACS will remain closed on Wednesday, Jan. 17, due to the high confidence of hazardous road conditions.  

For further updates on school decisions, please refer to official ACS social media channels and the website. 

Stay safe and warm.

Dr. Reeves

_____________________________________

January 16, 2024 | 10:15 a.m.
 
Tonight's monthly board meeting has been moved to Thursday, Jan. 18, at 5 p.m.
 
_____________________________________
 
January 15, 2024 | 4:30 p.m.
Aggie Family,

Due to inclement weather, Albertville City Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 16th. The Marshall County Basketball Tournament will also be postponed. We hope to resume the tournament on Wednesday with plans to finish on Saturday.

A decision regarding school operations on Wednesday will be made no later than 6 pm tomorrow. This decision will be based on tonight’s frozen precipitation and extremely cold temperatures. Temperatures are expected to get down to single digits, with wind chills ranging between -5 and -10 degrees over the next 48 hours. These conditions have the potential to create unsafe driving conditions for the next day or two.  

In the event that weather and road conditions allow the school system to open on Wednesday, please be prepared for a possible two or three-hour delay. This delay will not only allow for some warming but also enable personnel to check the building for any frozen pipes and ensure they are functioning properly in the cold weather.

Once again, ACS will remain closed on Tuesday, January 16th, due to weather conditions.

For further updates on school decisions, please refer to the ACS Facebook page and website.

Stay safe and warm.
Thanks, 
Dr. Reeves
_____________________________________

January 15, 2024 | 1:00 p.m.

Dear Aggie Family,

While an official decision on school tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 16, has not been made, it's important to start considering childcare arrangements for your children.

  • Marshall County is still under a Winter Storm Warning until 6 a.m. tomorrow, primarily due to the risk of ice later this evening.

  • I anticipate that this forecast will remain the same after our next National Weather Service (NWS) update later this afternoon.

Considering the current forecast, it's likely that Albertville City Schools (ACS) will be closed - no virtual day - on Tuesday, Jan. 16.  The decision for Wednesday will depend on developments this evening and into Tuesday. 

Temperatures are expected to drop to single digits on both Tuesday and Wednesday, with wind chill values reaching -5 to -10 degrees. If weather and road conditions allow for school to open on Wednesday, please be prepared for a possible delay.

  • I understand that this decision may be upsetting for some when bus route temperatures are 6 degrees and two hours later it is only 10 degrees. I get it! But, it will help some.

  • Also, bus drivers will be directed to wait a little longer to allow students to stay in their home before meeting the bus so pick up time may be a little off on this morning if a delay is called.  

While I cannot predict the weather, I can provide the timing of ACS decisions:

  • A decision for Tuesday, Jan. 16, will be made no later than 6 p.m. this evening, shortly after the 4 p.m. NWS update.  Please note that if the NWS provides an update earlier than 4 p.m. today, a decision could be announced sooner.

  • A decision for Wednesday, Jan. 17, will be made no later than 6 p.m. on Tuesday, based on the developments tonight into tomorrow morning.

  • Regarding the Marshall County Tournament, superintendents will discuss plans each afternoon after EMA briefings. A decision for Tuesday will be made no later than 6 p.m. today.

Again, please begin making plans based on the shared information, and we sincerely appreciate your flexibility, understanding and patience with each decision made.

Go Aggies!!!

Dr. Bart Reeves