As November 12, 2025, dawned with lingering icy patches and fresh snow flurries, families in the Tri-Cities area and parts of Kentucky woke up to a slew of school disruptions. The unseasonably harsh weather, following a stormy weekend, has forced districts to prioritize safety over schedules, leaving parents scrambling for childcare and kids eyeing extra playtime.
In the Tri-Cities region, covered closely by local outlets like WJHL, Johnson City Schools announced a two-hour delay for all grades, citing hazardous road conditions that made early commutes risky. Nearby, Sullivan County districts reported similar issues, with some schools opting for full closures after overnight accumulations hit up to three inches in higher elevations. Washington County-Tennessee schools, for instance, canceled classes entirely, a decision echoed by superintendents who noted the district's single built-in snow day is already in play this season.
Over in Kentucky, the story's much the same. Pikeville Independent Schools shut down completely for the day, while Meade and Breckinridge Counties extended delays from the previous day's chaos, affecting thousands of students across multiple counties. Estill County jumped to non-traditional instruction as a precaution, their first such day of the year. Officials warn that black ice remains a threat, even as temperatures creep above freezing by midday.
These interruptions highlight the ongoing challenge of balancing education with unpredictable weather patterns—worth pondering how districts might adapt in the months ahead.
