All Rockford Public Schools are closed today, according to an announcement on the school district website. All district after-school activities also are canceled, the announcement said.
The district reports that "a large percentage" of the district-owned school buses would not start because of the extreme cold.
The Administration Building, Student Assignment Center/Sterling Holley and Operations Support Center are open.
According to an additional release issued by the district, there was an issue with the electrical system that keeps the bus engines warm in the intense cold. While staff tried for several hours to get buses started this morning, more than a third of the bus fleet was exposed to the extreme cold and wouldn’t start.
District officials say they are working to ensure the electrical system for the buses is repaired.