HILL AS STUDENTS HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM. DESPITE THESE FREEZING TEMPERATURES, STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE REGION ARE HEADING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WEEK. ALLDERDICE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE BUNDLED UP HEAD TO TOE FOR THE FIRST DAY BACK OF IN-PERSON LEARNING. JUST LAST WEEK, SCHOOLS AROUND THE AREA WERE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE SNOWSTORM AND COLD WEATHER, BUT THAT CAME TO AN END FOR MANY THIS MORNING. EVEN THOUGH WE’RE DEALING WITH SUBZERO TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS, SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LIKE MCKEESPORT, DID ISSUE A TWO HOUR DELAY. OTHERS, LIKE PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WEST JEFFERSON HILLS AND NORTH HILLS WELCOME STUDENTS BACK AT THEIR NORMAL TIME. NOW, WE DID REACH OUT TO SEVERAL DISTRICTS TO FIND OUT WHY DELAYS OR CLOSINGS WEREN’T ISSUED. WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT TODAY COMPARED TO LAST WEEK? WE HEARD BACK FROM DOCTOR JANET SARDIN WITH THE WEST JEFFERSON HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT. SHE SAYS THERE WERE NO POSTED ADVISORIES FOR TODAY, AND SINCE STUDENTS MISSED SCHOOL LAST WEEK, SHE DIDN’T DELAY. SHE SAYS DECISIONS ARE MADE ON SCENARIOS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. MANY DISTRICTS, THOUGH, CAUTION FAMILIES ABOUT GETTING TO SCHOOL, WHETHER THAT BE TRAVELING SAFELY OR BUNDLING UP. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS MOVING FORWARD ON IF YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A DELAY OR CLOSURE, YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION OVER ON OUR WEBSI
Students return to many Western Pennsylvania school districts despite freezing temperatures
Students returned to school after a week of closures due to a snowstorm.
Updated: 4:35 PM EST Feb 2, 2026
Students around the Pittsburgh region returned to class Monday despite freezing temperatures.Last week, schools around the area were closed because of the massive snowstorm and cold weather. That came to an end for many students Monday morning, even though subzero temperatures persisted.In Squirrel Hill, Allderdice High School students were bundled up from head to toe for the first day back to in-person learning.Some school districts, like McKeesport Area, issued a two-hour delay. Others, including Pittsburgh Public Schools, West Jefferson Hills and North Hills, welcomed students back at their normal time.Many districts cautioned families about getting to school, whether that involved traveling safely or bundling up.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reached out to several school districts to understand why delays or closures were not issued, and what was different about Monday compared with last week.West Jefferson Hills Superintendent Janet Sardon said there were no posted weather advisories for Monday, and since students missed school last week, she did not delay. Sardon added that decisions are made based on scenarios and circumstances.Greensburg Salem Superintendent Ken Bissell said, “We use thresholds of 0 degree and below air temperatures and/or -10 degree or below sustained wind chills when making decisions based on temperatures.”Additionally, Bissell said that last week, “the combination of cold temperatures, freezing and refreezing roadways, large amounts of snow removal/moving, and overnight snow made conditions unsafe for normal transportation operations.”A statement from Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson Ebony Pugh said, “There were multiple factors that informed the decision to hold school remotely last week. In addition to more extreme early-morning temperatures, impassable roads, and a declared state of emergency by the mayor, the district needed to allow time for facilities teams to safely clear school grounds – including parking lots, bus lanes, and surrounding areas – as well as time for residents to clear sidewalks and for the city to address road conditions. Those combined conditions were not present to the same extent today, allowing schools to operate safely in person.”
PITTSBURGH —
Students around the Pittsburgh region returned to class Monday despite freezing temperatures.
Last week, schools around the area were closed because of the massive snowstorm and cold weather. That came to an end for many students Monday morning, even though subzero temperatures persisted.
In Squirrel Hill, Allderdice High School students were bundled up from head to toe for the first day back to in-person learning.
Some school districts, like McKeesport Area, issued a two-hour delay. Others, including Pittsburgh Public Schools, West Jefferson Hills and North Hills, welcomed students back at their normal time.
Many districts cautioned families about getting to school, whether that involved traveling safely or bundling up.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reached out to several school districts to understand why delays or closures were not issued, and what was different about Monday compared with last week.
West Jefferson Hills Superintendent Janet Sardon said there were no posted weather advisories for Monday, and since students missed school last week, she did not delay. Sardon added that decisions are made based on scenarios and circumstances.
Greensburg Salem Superintendent Ken Bissell said, “We use thresholds of 0 degree and below air temperatures and/or -10 degree or below sustained wind chills when making decisions based on temperatures.”
Additionally, Bissell said that last week, “the combination of cold temperatures, freezing and refreezing roadways, large amounts of snow removal/moving, and overnight snow made conditions unsafe for normal transportation operations.”
A statement from Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson Ebony Pugh said, “There were multiple factors that informed the decision to hold school remotely last week. In addition to more extreme early-morning temperatures, impassable roads, and a declared state of emergency by the mayor, the district needed to allow time for facilities teams to safely clear school grounds – including parking lots, bus lanes, and surrounding areas – as well as time for residents to clear sidewalks and for the city to address road conditions. Those combined conditions were not present to the same extent today, allowing schools to operate safely in person.”