The snowstorm Wednesday morning has caused closures for school districts, the Ute Mountain Ute government offices and Mesa Verde National Park.
Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 closed all schools, according to a district notice. No buses will run, and all after- school activities were canceled.
At 5:52 a.m., school district reported a two-hour delay, but as the storm intensified, the district went to full closure at 8 a.m.
At 8:40 a.m., Dolores School District RE-4A reported a full school closure, citing “continued snowfall and poor road conditions.”
The district also initially reported a two-hour delay at 7:26 a.m., then updated to the closure.
Mancos School District RE-6 remained on its regular schedule, according to Superintendent Todd Codrey.
Dove Creek schools in Dolores County also closed Wednesday, according to a notice at 7:21 a.m. on its Facebook page. The district initially called for a two-hour delay at 5:38 a.m., then updated to a closure.
In a notice to staff and students, the Dolores County Schools Superintendent Ty Gray said that because of the number of snow closures this year, the school will add two school days to this semester’s calender to meet state regulations.
As of March 1, the Dolores County school district has closed seven times this semester because of weather.
“With the large number of closures, we will have to make up some time to meet the state minimum requirements,” Gray stated. “As of March 1, we will have to make up about two days of school for the year.”
The board and Gray will discuss the options to make up time at the March board meeting as the board will have to amend the calendar that was approved for the 2022-23 school year to attend school on Fridays.
“We will look at different options for making up time and determine what will create the least amount of confusion and disruption for everyone,” Gray stated.
“We will get through this winter and snowy days and finish the year strong. Thanks for everyone's patience and understanding with the closures so far this year,” Gray stated.
Pueblo Community College Southwest went to remote-learning status beginning at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Students should check MyCourses for specific class instructions. All nonessential employees will work remotely. Visit pueblocc.edu/weather for details.
Mesa Verde National Park closed because of drifting and blowing snow. It had planned to open at 10 a.m., but conditions deteriorated.
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s offices closed at noon, according to a notice by Vice Chairman Alston Turtle.
U.S. Highway 491 is snowpacked, and visibility is poor, according to CDOT.
From Montezuma County Road N to the Utah state line, chains or four-wheel drive are required, according to the Montezuma County Emergency Alert system.
At 11:30 a.m., an alert was issued for Montezuma County that “all county roads north of Road U to the county line have low visibility, blizzard conditions, and heavy snowfall. Please stay off the roads.”
“Keep traffic moving, don’t block road, dangerous conditions,” the 9:55 a.m. message states.
Colorado Highway 145 and U.S. Highway 160 are snowpacked and icy.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
