Local Parents and Students Dealing with School Closures

Schools are Closed Until April at the Earliest

U-s can expect more cases and deaths.

Several school districts across north alabama are choosing to close tomorrow - ahead of a state mandated closure thursday.

This includes all three districts in madison county.

Waay-31s alexis scott is outside madison counties schools central office.

She spoke with parents about what this closure means for them and their kids.

Alexis?

Well... many parents told me they're relieved school will be out for the next 3 weeks.

And are thankful they can know for sure their kids will be safe from outside germs. andre danson, father "i have 3 kids and all 3 of them have conditions like asthma.

So being able to close the school system for them to thoroughly clean it, that's a good thing," andre danson and his daughter are trying to be all smiles through the school closures.

He says his job is letting him work from home.

And while he'll be working -- his daughter told me she has other plans.

Mary catherine danson "i will probably work on crafts during my free time and read because i love to read and i love to make crafts," sunday afternoon several schools made the decision to close on monday march 16th through friday april 3rd.

Some people... like danson will be allowed to work from home -- but others aren't so lucky.

They are now left figuring out who will take care of their kids.

Danson says he's grateful he's not dealing with that predicament... and is just trying to remain calm as more cases are confirmed throughout alabama.

Andre danson, father "if something happens we're there but not everyone has that situation and i get that and i don't know what i'd do if i was in that situation, i really don't.

Huntsville... madison... and madison county schools say students can come to school tomorrow to pick up any belongings they may need but after that the school will be locked down until it reopens in april.

Reporting live in huntsville, alexis scott waay-31 news.

Both madison city schools and madison county schools are not requiring students to learn online -- or complete homework during the closure.

However there are optional take home assignments available for madison county schools.

While school is out many students may be without a meal for breakfast... lunch and dinner... so people wanted to make sure they wouldn't miss a bite to eat during the closure.

Several volunteer groups stepped up to start taking donations for non-perishable food items. they want to take these items and create food bags and meals for students who are not able to eat 3 times a day while school is cancelled for the next 3 weeks.

We spoke with a parent volunteer who works with the community care closet out of madison county school system... riverton elementary.

She told us this is needed to ensure the well-being of students.

"it's very important to us that we make sure they have enough food for the time that they're out.

We're very grateful for our monthly donors that keep us stocked and for our community that's pulling together and bringing items in," at riverton elementary they'll be taking donations until monday morning.

After that... they will start handing them out to any student in the madison county area.

All parents have to do is drive to riverton in their car line... and the volunteers will hand out the food bags to you.

They will do this monday... tuesday and wednesday.

Like we mentioned several schools chose to close on monday.

Here's a full list of those districts.

They include all three districts in madison county and several districts throughout north alabama.

Here's the list of school districts closing on tuesday.

Again -- all alabama public schools will be closed for two and half weeks starting on thursday.

This as the governor issued a state of emergency in alabama