Why wasn’t school canceled in Miami-Dade ahead of Helene? Residents fume on social media
As Helene made its way toward Florida on Wednesday, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach school districts decided to cancel classes the following day, along with the majority of school districts in the state (including Florida Virtual School).
In a statement posted on Wednesday, the Miami-Dade district said that in collaboration with the National Weather Service and Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management, they made the decision to keep schools open. The district decided instead to cancel outdoor activities and make after school programs stay indoors.
Hurricane Helene has strengthened to a Category 2 as of Thursday morning and is headed to the Big Bend of Florida where it’s expected to make landfall Thursday evening. Miami-Dade and Broward can expect a few fast-moving squall lines as Helene’s outer bands sweep through. Some of them could be intense and leave pockets of street flooding. There is also the potential for scattered power outages, mainly from downed trees and limbs.
Parents and students had opinions about the District’s decision to have classes, as evidenced in the Instagram post the District shared yesterday detailing their plans. The post had over 2,800 responses, mainly from parents and students saying that the decision put students at risk.
Daniela, a freshman at Barbara Goleman Senior High School, complained in a comment on Instagram that some students do not have reliable transportation, and the rain may put them at risk. She also added that students may get wet when transitioning between classrooms during the passing periods, as many Florida schools have an indoor/outdoor set-up. “I strongly urge the district to cancel school until after the hurricane passes,” she wrote. 1,113 people liked her comment.
She said her Chemistry teacher also complained about schools remaining open, saying that it is unfair that all Florida counties have canceled school except Miami-Dade.
Another commentor wrote “the risk of accidents increases with submerged roads and poor visibility. We shouldn’t subject our community to these risks.”
A student wrote “the system says they care about out education but are silent when it comes to our well being.”
Many people also joked in the comments about jetskiing, boating and swimming to school. One person wrote, “have a good day I’m not swimming,” and another “Where do I park my jetski [tomorrow]?”
In a statement sent to the Herald on Thursday, the District reiterated why schools remained open: “Based on direct communication, data, and information we received from Miami-Dade County’s Department of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service, the decision was made to remain open in the best interest of students and the community.”
The District also said it understands the concerns parents and students have about potential weather hazards and that “students who did not attend school today will not be penalized.”
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 10:32 AM.
