URGENT UPDATE: The Boulder Valley School District has just announced the closure of schools for Friday, December 15, 2023, due to forecasted high winds and elevated fire danger. This marks the district’s second consecutive day of closures as students receive an early start to winter break.
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management is actively urging residents to stay off the roads as conditions worsen. The dangerous weather may also lead to another planned power outage, with notifications indicating it could begin as early as 5 a.m. Friday, according to an Xcel social media update.
In response to the missed finals, high school exams will now be rescheduled for the first week after winter break, with the start of the second semester also pushed back. Each high school is expected to communicate specific schedules to families shortly. For district-wide updates, visit bvsd.org.
Wednesday’s storm wreaked havoc across the region, knocking out power to nearly half of the district’s schools and causing minor damage. As Boulder Valley spokesman Randy Barber noted, “It’s difficult to operate a school district when you have a lot of schools that are out of power.” By Thursday morning, 20 schools were still without power, but this number decreased to 16 by noon.
Wind gusts during the storm reached an alarming 100 miles per hour in some areas, particularly in south Boulder. This resulted in shattered and cracked windows at Fairview High School, where students were taking finals. A window also broke at Columbine Elementary School. Barber confirmed that other schools suffered minor roof and HVAC damage, alongside downed trees and limbs.
The district’s central kitchen, located at 55th Street and Arapahoe Road, lost power as well. Although it had a generator to maintain refrigeration, it wasn’t sufficient for cooking meals. The impact extends beyond school grounds, as staff members and students face power outages at home, while traffic lights remain out and debris on the roads presents further hazards.
“It was a significant event,” Barber remarked, highlighting the challenges posed by the severe weather.
As conditions remain precarious, the Boulder Valley School District is prioritizing safety and will continue to monitor the situation closely. Stay tuned for further updates as officials navigate this unfolding crisis.
