By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

School systems throughout Alabama will not be required to make up the day they were out for winter weather on Jan. 16, as Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for the entire state in advance of the winter storm.

“All Alabamians should take time to be prepared for the potential of winter weather. I have directed essential state agencies to be on the ready should they be needed over the next couple of days,” Ivey wrote in a Jan. 15 statement as she issued the state of emergency. “As with any severe weather event, being prepared is of utmost importance. Everyone should take the necessary precautions now and stay informed of the latest weather forecasts for their area. This state of emergency will ensure that all available state resources are ready if and when they are needed.”

On Jan. 15, the Shelby County, Alabaster, Hoover and Pelham public school systems and private schools throughout the county announced they were canceling classes for Jan. 16, as weather forecasters were predicting significant travel problems because of the arctic blast.

“This winter storm could be debilitating to the state for a couple of days due to icy conditions,” read Ivey’s statement.

In her declaration of state of emergency, Ivey wrote “Local educational agencies maintain the discretion to open or close any school or office based on local conditions and forecasts, and any affected school system that is closed as a result and loses student days or employee days, or both, may appeal to the state superintendent of education for relief in fulfilling the local school calendar with respect to student days or employee days, or both, with no loss of income to employees.”

Jan. 16 marked the second day local schools were closed as a result of winter weather this school year. On Dec. 8, 2017, schools closed as much of central Alabama was hit with several inches of snow. Because no state of emergency was issued for the Dec. 8, 2017, snowfall, local schools are making up the day this spring.