UPDATE - August 12, 9 p.m.:
The Washoe County School District has announced that nine schools will be closed on Thursday due to ongoing wildfires in the region.
All nine of the schools were also closed on Wednesday. Eight of the schools have been closed since the start of the week.
The schools that are affected are listed below.
Desert Heights Elementary School
Silver Lake Elementary School
Lemmon Valley Elementary School
Alyce Taylor Elementary School
Jesse Hall Elementary School
Spanish Springs Elementary School
Natchez Elementary School
Shaw Middle School
Spanish Springs High School
Bus transportation will not be able to operate in areas that have been evacuated or are standing by for possible evacuation.
Students who were assigned transportation on Wednesday will remain assigned transportation on Thursday, while students who did not have transportation on Wednesday will not have bus service on Thursday.
All other Washoe County schools are scheduled to be in session on Thursday.
UPDATE - August 10, 8 p.m.:
Eight Washoe County School District schools that were closed on Monday due to the Bug Fire will be closed again on Tuesday.
The district made the announcement in a press release on Monday evening.
Classes and activities are canceled for the second day at the fo0llowing schools.
- Desert Heights Elementary School
- Silver Lake Elementary School
- Lemmon Valley Elementary School
- Shaw Middle School
- Spanish Springs High School
- Alyce Taylor Elementary School
- Jesse Hall Elementary School
- Spanish Springs Elementary School
All other WCSD schools will remain open on Tuesday.
Bus transportation will not be able to operate in areas that have been evacuated or are standing by for possible evacuation.
If the situation changes overnight and additional schools need to be closed, families will be notified by 5:30 a.m., Tuesday morning.
UPDATE - August 10:
Eight Washoe County School District schools are closed Monday as officials monitor the Bug Fire and changing evacuation conditions in the area.
The district said classes and activities are canceled Monday at the following schools:
- Desert Heights Elementary School
- Silver Lake Elementary School
- Lemmon Valley Elementary School
- Shaw Middle School
- Spanish Springs High School
- Alyce Taylor Elementary School
- Jesse Hall Elementary School
- Spanish Springs Elementary School
All other Washoe County School District schools are in session Monday.
The district said the decision to close the eight schools was based on current evacuation zones, power outages and updated information about the fire.
The Washoe County School District continues to work with regional public safety officials to monitor the fires and determine the safest plan for students and staff.
Bus transportation cannot operate in areas designated as “red” or “yellow,” meaning areas that have been evacuated or are standing by for possible evacuation.
Families can check the latest evacuation maps at Perimeter Map.
The district had previously said all schools would open for the first day of school because no schools were in evacuation zones. Officials had also said schools would be closed if a school site was placed in a yellow or red zone overnight.
The district said it will continue monitoring conditions and working with public safety officials as the fires and evacuation areas change.
(Washoe County School District contributed to this report.)
ORIGINAL STORY - August 9:
The Washoe County School District says it's working with regional public safety officials to monitor the fires burning around the region.
The district says all WCSD schools will be open for the first day of school August 10, as no schools are currently in evacuation zones.
Bus transportation will not be able to operate in the areas designated as “red” or “yellow”, meaning those that have been evacuated or are standing by for possible evacuation.
You can see the latest evacuation maps at Perimeter Map.
If a school site is placed in a yellow or red zone overnight, the school will be closed, and families will be notified in the morning.
Officials are closely monitoring the following schools due to the potential of changing conditions:
- Desert Heights Elementary School
- Silver Lake Elementary School
- Lemmon Valley Elementary School
- Shaw Middle School
- Spanish Springs High School
- Alyce Taylor Elementary School
- Jesse Hall Elementary School
If you have not received any further notifications by 5:30 am tomorrow, Monday, August 10, your child’s school will be in session.
(Washoe County School District contributed to this report.)
