LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The city of Louisville is expanding its snow plow routes to help Jefferson County Public Schools reopen after a winter storm.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said city crews are working with JCPS, which has been closed this week, to clear roadways around the city. On Tuesday, Greenberg said the city has covered 110 routes multiple times, but plans to do additional routes on Wednesday.

"We're going to add streets that are not on our snow routes to keep plowing to help more residents have their roads plowed to help JCPS kids get back to school quicker, to help get you to your job," Greenberg said. "We've been working closely with JCPS over the past 18 hours. They provided us with some routes that they could use some help on." 

Carolyn Callahan, the district's chief communications officer, said the condition of side streets is a factor in the decision to return to school. The school district has around 40,000 bus riders. 

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced the additional snow plowing objectives on Tuesday.

"A lot of those bus stops are on side roads," Callahan said. "Some of our schools' entranceways are on side roads, so that's something you think about as well."

JCPS has crews working 12-hour shifts throughout the storm. 

"We have to make sure that there is a safe entryway and an exitway at each of those buildings, plus our administrative buildings as well," Callahan said. "We did have some water ice over again on some of our parking lots and driveways."

Callahan said all the school buildings still have heat and there haven't been any broken pipes or damage to the buildings.

JCPS was scheduled to return from winter break on Monday, but announced on Sunday evening that class would be canceled due to the winter storm. Then on Monday, the school district announced the cancellation of class for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Temperatures are expected to drop into the upper teens on Thursday, while Friday is forecasted for lows in the mid 20s. Callahan said JCPS hopes to announce a decision Wednesday on whether or not there will be school on Thursday. But that decision could come as late as 5 a.m. on Thursday morning.

The school district has a fleet of 18 plows and more than 150 facilities to clear.

Because JCPS was on winter break when the storm hit, days off this week are traditional snow days and not virtual instruction. 

Callahan said that the snow days will likely not have an impact on summer break at this point. 

"We have fives days that are built into our calendar always," Callahan said on Monday. "We used one of those days that the board has forgiven when we took that day off on Sept. 27 for the hurricane. So we have four left. So these three days that we have now — these snow days — can be forgiven by the board. So, as of right now, as long as the board forgives those, which we expect that they would, we have no change to our last day of school at this point."

The last day of school for JCPS is scheduled for May 22.

Related Stories:

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.