Friday, January 30, 2026, will be designated as Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) Day #5 for McCracken County Schools.

We are very appreciative of our custodians and maintenance teams who have worked tirelessly over the past several days to clear and treat sidewalks and parking lots at all of our campuses. At this time, school parking lots and sidewalks across the district have been plowed, shoveled, and treated to mitigate winter conditions. Maintenance and custodial staff will continue to work on these surfaces over the next two days. We are also grateful to our local and state road crews, which have done an outstanding job working to improve road conditions throughout the county.

Despite this progress, some secondary roads remain snow-covered and unsafe for school bus travel. School buses are much heavier than passenger vehicles, require significantly longer stopping distances, and cannot maneuver or brake as effectively on icy roads—particularly on narrow, hilly, or untreated routes. In addition, many bus turnarounds are still not clear, and large mounds of snow and ice from plowing remain at intersections and along road shoulders. These conditions limit the ability for two vehicles to pass safely and create challenges unique to bus operations.

While we have explored alternate bus routes, the number of required changes would be extensive and not workable across the district. For clarity, our decision to call an NTI day is not because cars cannot drive on the roads, but because school buses cannot safely navigate in order to pick up all students.

We recognize that road conditions vary widely across our large county. Unfortunately, no single decision will meet every family’s needs every time, and we understand that frustration can occur regardless of the decision made. Our goal is always to make the safest and most responsible choice for the greatest number of students and staff.

Meal Service Information:
McCracken County Food Service will offer meal bag pick-up at each school on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Families who wish to pick up meals should drive to the door closest to the cafeteria at their child’s school. A student lunch number will be required for pick-up.

Homecoming Weekend Update:

Officials at Paducah City Schools and McCracken County Schools have confirmed that the girls and boys varsity basketball games will take place as scheduled. McCracken County High School will continue with Homecoming activities as planned, with the Homecoming game and coronation on Friday and the Homecoming dance on Saturday. Because buses are not used for these events, and because parking lots and sidewalks at McCracken County High School will be clear, families may make the best decision for their child based on road conditions in their area.

Thank you to our dedicated staff and to our families for your continued patience, understanding, and support as we work through these weather-related challenges together.

Heath Elementary