Carson schools stay open, Storey County schools close for day

Carson City schools were open Monday after experiencing little damage from recent winds, rain and snow.

Except for a mishap with a local news station that listed Carson High School closed Monday morning, operations were normal, said Superintendent Mary Pierczynski.

"Our schools are pretty nice and dry today," Pierczynski said Monday. "As long as we have power in our schools and transportation," schools will remain open, she said.

Some buildings had leaks and roofing problems due to high wind, but recently finished maintenance helped to keep buildings safe, Pierczynski said.

The head of school transportation planned to chain up buses this morning and drive the routes before making a determination on closures. School officials will release closure information by 6 a.m. on local TV and radio news programs.

The only problem Monday was when someone from the public phoned in a false closure of Carson High School. The district called the station quickly to fix the misinformation and ironed out "protocols" with the television station to prevent "a creative student from calling off school," the superintendent said.

Storey County schools were closed Monday due to damage at the high school and Hillside Elementary. Superintendent Henry Kilmer said the high school lost shingles and had minor damage, but four classrooms closed at Hillside after their roofs blew off during the storms.

"We don't know how much damage was done, but definitely the roofs are gone," Kilmer said.

The district closed schools Monday to check power and emergency systems, he said. Officials were leaning toward keeping schools closed today, but hadn't made a final determination by press time Monday.

The weather closed schools on Monday in Washoe County, the Tahoe-Truckee School District and all campuses of Truckee Meadows Community College. Schools in Lyon County were open, as was the University of Nevada, Reno, where students are taking final examinations this week.