Metro Atlanta schools cancel classes, activities fearing Hurricane Irma’s impact

Metro Atlanta school districts have announced they will close Monday amid fears of Hurricane Irma’s local impact. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

Metro Atlanta school districts have announced they will close Monday amid fears of Hurricane Irma’s local impact. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Every school district in metro Atlanta has canceled classes Monday amid growing fears as Hurricane Irma pushes north through Florida, projected to hit Georgia early Monday.

Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton school districts, as well as City Schools of Decatur, have also decided to close Tuesday as well.

RELATED: Complete list of school and college closings

Metro Atlanta is under a tropical storm warning as Hurricane Irma makes its way north. That means winds are expected in the area between 39 and 73 mph as Irma approaches.

According to Channel 2 Action News, rain and and heavy wind is expected to begin Monday morning and pick up as the day progresses.

DeKalb County School District officials said Sunday that staff and students should not report to school Monday or Tuesday because of inclement weather fears.

“The health and safety of our DCSD family are of the utmost importance,” Superintendent Steve Green said in a press release Sunday. “With information currently available, it would not be prudent to open schools knowing the potential impact Hurricane Irma will bring to the area.”

Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said on Twitter Sunday that a decision on whether to close schools Tuesday will be made based on the storm's impact Monday.

APS officials said in their release: “We will continue to monitor and assess forecasts as we make decisions on the status of school on Tuesday, Sept. 12, and the remainder of the week.”

Grant Rivera, superintendent at Marietta City Schools, took to Twitter to announce that schools would be closed on Monday, and to send additional assurances to the school community.

“Be safe. Focus on your family,” he wrote Sunday afternoon. “We'll take care of our schools.”