Peabody Winter Storm: Schools Stay Remote, Parking Ban In Effect

PEABODY, MA — Peabody Public Schools had an early dismissal on Monday and a remote day of learning on Tuesday after a messy winter storm brought high winds and heavy rain to the immediate coast and huge snow totals just a few miles inland.

Peabody Superintendent of Schools Josh Vadala said Monday night that all school buildings and offices, including Passos Avante, were closed on Tuesday

Peabody Schools were dismissed early on Monday ahead of the storm that brought the mix of rain, snow and wind right along the coast and much higher snow totals just a few miles inland.

The district is using remote learning days in place of traditional snow days off amid the coronavirus health crisis this year.

"Two areas of concern within our schools has been the loss of learning and the impact on the mental health of our students," the district said in its "inclement weather day" guidelines for 2020-21 released in December."As a result, we have decided to engage in remote learning on inclement weather days this year. Given the fragmented nature of learning environments over the past 10 months, the continuity of instruction is extremely important for students. In addition, it is arguably more important to provide our students with access to their teachers, support staff and classmates.

"The pandemic has left many of our students feeling isolated and alone. Engaging in a remote learning day will ensure they have access to teachers, counselors and peers throughout the day."

Peabody High dismissed students at 10:30 a.m., Higgins Middle School dismissed at 12:30 p.m. and all elementary schools and Passos Avante dismissed at 1 p.m. on Monday. There was no PM kindergarten.

Peabody also called a snow emergency parking ban beginning at noon and lasting at least 24 hours into Tuesday.

Trash and recycling collection is postponed on Tuesday and delayed one day for the rest of the week.

The state also canceled all "Stop the Spread" coronavirus testing at Salem High School Tuesday during the day.

A strong Northeast wind caused a massive variance between snow totals along the coast and those just a few miles inland. While the immediate coast on the North and South shores received little, if any, snow, Wilmington was a jackpot town just 15 miles inland with 20 inches.

Most communities in Middlesex, Worcester and inland Essex counties were hit with more than a foot of snow.

Here's a county-by-county breakdown of snow observations which constructed this map: https://t.co/nbXQ9eFfy2 Significant wind gusts (over 46 mph) are also included. https://t.co/IYK3X498Xb
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) February 2, 2021

Check back on Patch throughout the day on Tuesday for updates on possible school closings, public building shutdowns, parking bans, trash delays and other storm-related information.

(MA Braces For Nor'easter To Dump 12+ Inches Across State)

Have a fun snow photo to share? Email to scott.souza@patch.com if you head out to enjoy the snow.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody,
Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)