DeKalb County School District officials announced late Thursday that the district would begin spring break a day early, canceling Friday classes in the wake of the Interstate 85 interstate collapse.
The district is on spring break from April 3-7.
Year-round employees will still report for work, district officials said in a press release.
The indefinite closure of a major thoroughfare will make travel in and around Atlanta difficult, and the district is seeking to alleviate its own impact on delays.
“After careful evaluation, the district has determined that it will not be able to transport students to and from school efficiently given the transportation event this evening,” Superintendent Steve Green said. “With one day before spring break, the prudent decision is to keep students at home and not contribute to difficult travel conditions.”
Fire was reported around I-85 at Piedmont Road, just south of Ga. 400, about 6:30 p.m. A portion of the interstate's northbound bridge collapsed about a half hour later. Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency.
