School systems weighing options as Dorian approaches

"We are all talking about it. We are all talking about what to expect. When is it going to hit is really our biggest question," said Susan Book, who has a son in the Wake County Public School System.

Her question is also the biggest question for school districts across the region. WCPSS and Durham Public Schools follow a similar protocol when deciding whether it's safe for students to go to school. Both are in constant contact with emergency services, watching the path of a storm and weighing the risks.

"Student safety is our No. 1 priority. What our district leaders are looking at is, is it safe to operate school and is it safe to transport students from school and back home?" said WCPSS spokeswoman Lisa Luten.

"I think we want to make sure that we are diligent, regardless of where we think the storm is going to hit, and be prepared. We would rather be prepared and safe than sorry," said Julius Monk, DPS chief operating officer.

Some coastal school districts have already canceled classes for the rest of the week to better prepare for Dorian. Closer to the Triangle, Wayne County Public Schools officials decided Tuesday to cancel classes Thursday and Friday.

The decisions of each school district ultimately come down to the superintendents, with a great deal of help from other officials around the area.

"Those leaders are working with municipal leaders and state leaders, mainly the National Weather Service but also, when we are talking about power and water and road conditions, our towns and our cities that encompass Wake County," said Luten.

The school districts say they want to wait until the latest possible minute to make the decisions, which can alter learning time, so they are asking parents to be patient and stay connected.