Nearly all schools to close Monday and Tuesday
> Governor calls for 'snow days' to avert possible fuel shortage
> By AILEEN DODD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
> Published on: 09/23/05
All but four public school districts in Georgia will close Monday and Tuesday following a request by the governor to conserve fuel.
The request to shut down was made late Friday to all Georgia school systems that could be affected by a possible fuel shortage should Hurricane Rita hinder production in Texas.
In a conference call, Gov. Sonny Perdue told Georgia school officials the closing of schools was a necessary precaution. Schools that comply will count Monday and Tuesday as snow days and make them up later in the year.
"While I never like to see classes canceled, unprecedented events call for an unprecedented response," said Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "I am hopeful that these two early snow days will help us avoid a fuel shortage and will alleviate the short-term fuel concerns of local districts."
"While I realize this action will cause an inconvenience for some parents, we must do what we feel is in the best interests of the state," said Cox.
Due to the school closures, the Georgia High School Writing Test will be given Thursday instead of Tuesday, said state testing director Sharron Hunt.
It was up to each school superintendent to decide whether to call off classes.
Four school districts have indicated they will be open on Monday and Tuesday — Floyd County, Haralson County, Rome City and Thomasville City.
Floyd County schools said the governor's request came too late.
"Closing schools on Monday and Tuesday would not have given our parents enough advance notice to deal with child care issues for their children. ... Had the request from the governor come at any other time and with more advance notice, the school system would certainly comply with the governor's request," a message on the Floyd County school system Web site stated.
The state estimates about 250,000 gallons of diesel fuel will be saved each day by keeping buses off the road. The governor also said an undetermined amount of regular gasoline also would be saved by allowing teachers, other school staff members and some parents to stay home those days. Electricity also would be conserved by keeping the schools closed.
"If Georgians stick together, work together and conserve together we can weather whatever problems Rita brings our way with the least possible inconvenience," Perdue said.
As he did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Perdue asked the state's residents to limit nonessential travel and look for commute alternatives including telecommuting, car pooling and four-day work weeks.
He said if people reduce demand, "we will have enough market power to hold prices down. All together, we can influence demand within our state."
Tim Callahan, spokesman for the 61,000-member Professional Association of Georgia Educators, said he worried Perdue's announcement would only prompt panic-buying at the pumps in the days ahead.
"I wonder if it's going to create the type of panic that we saw a few weeks back that drove prices over $3," said Callahan, referring to the long gas lines and record-high prices that came in the days following Hurricane Katrina.
Gwinnett County public school officials said they have plenty of fuel for their buses. They purchase fuel through a joint agreement with the county.
"There is still gas for us to use next week," said Sloan Roach, spokesman for Gwinnett Schools. "We could hold school Monday and Tuesday, but we are complying with the request ... to help with energy consumption issues that could result from the latest hurricane threat.''
Twelve-month contract employees such as principals and administrative support staff in Gwinnett will report to work on Monday and Tuesday, Roach said.
- The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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