UPDATE: Prince William County Schools Closed On Jan. 29

Updated at 9:25 p.m.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — After announcing Prince William County Public Schools would reopen schools on Thursday, Jan. 29, with a delayed start, the district reversed course Wednesday evening.

Instead, the district is under a Code Green on Thursday, with schools closed for students and teachers. All 250-day classified employees and school-based/central office administrators report at 10 a.m.

• Schools are closed. Offices are closed to the public.
• Virtual classes are canceled.
• The School Age Child Care program will not open.
• All school activities (day and evening) are canceled, including field trips, team practices, club meetings, interscholastic contests, and athletic contests.
• All non-school activities (day and evening) are canceled, including Adult Education, evening school classes, community use, and recreational programs scheduled in school buildings.
• Students may use the day optionally to catch up or voluntarily work on assignments already assigned.

"Although PWCS is fully prepared to reopen, I have monitored the numerous concerns raised by families about community and neighborhood walkways that have still not been cleared, and these are valid concerns," Superintendent LaTanya D. McDade posted on the school system website.

For this reason, schools will move to Code Green status for Jan. 29. The conditions of neighborhood walkways leading to bus stops will persist well into next week with the current temperatures. Parents were asked to encourage neighborhood associations and citizens to clear sidewalks and bus stops in the community, which is beyond the control of school officials.

"We cannot remain closed until all the snow and ice have dissipated. We need your help in getting our students back in school as soon as possible," McDade said.

In an effort to support families who may experience food insecurity, PWCS will distribute free meal kits on Jan. 29, through the USDA Summer Food Service Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge.

Meal kits will include two breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and snacks per child up to the age of 18.

Meal kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, from 12-3 p.m. at these locations:

• Fred Lynn Middle School, 1650 Prince William Parkway, Woodbridge
• Hampton Middle School, 14800 Darbydale Avenue, Woodbridge
• Unity Braxton Middle School, 10100 Lomond Drive, Manassas

Classes were canceled and all buildings were closed Monday through Wednesday in the aftermath of the weekend snowstorm amid brutal cold.

Manassas City Public Schools and offices will be closed Thursday, Jan. 29. Code Blue for employees.

• Related: Map Shows Parts Of VA Most Likely To Be Hit By Weekend Winter Storm

Facilities and custodial teams have cleared school lots and sidewalks; there will be reduced parking and sidewalk access due to snow piles from clearing efforts.

Staff and families should allow additional time for arrival and departure and anticipate that conditions will vary and may not be perfect, the district said. Due to persistent freezing temperatures, some icy spots on parking lots and sidewalks may remain present until temperatures rise.

Pathways extending into or through neighborhoods, are not part of PWCS school-based snow and ice treatment, community partnership in clearing such routes is appreciated, the district said.