The Kent School District closed schools Wednesday, Jan. 5 for the second consecutive day.

According to a district statement Tuesday night, this decision was made out of an abundance of caution by its Inclement Weather team for the following reasons:

• A two-hour delay is not an option as Wednesdays are two-hour early release days for students.

• Side streets and sidewalks, especially on the east side of our district, continue to be covered in compact snow and ice.

• Rain, snow, and freezing temperatures are forecasted in our district through 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Please note that this means there is no a.m. or p.m. preschool, no out-of-district transportation, no sports, events, or activities on Wednesday, Jan. 5. The admin center is open.

District officials also said the National Weather Service is also forecasting rain and snow on Wednesday night and flooding later this week.

“In emergencies, such as snow, icy weather conditions, and power outages, our top priority is the safety of students and staff,” according to the district statement. “We recognize school closures disrupt family schedules, can create hardships, and may extend the school year. Making a decision about weather-related school closures is always difficult because so many different situations have to be considered.

“We do our very best to balance the many interests at stake. Still, we recognize that no matter what decision we make, it will not please everyone.”