Wichita area schools cancel evening activities ahead of severe weather threat

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - As severe weather threatened to move across portions of central and south-central Kansas on Monday, school districts decided to dismiss class early and cancel evening activities. Even some businesses and local governments chose safety and closed early to keep their employees out of harm’s way.

Storm Team 12 provides a full list of closures: https://www.kwch.com/weather/closings/

1:20 p.m. - The City of Wichita has announced the following closures, cancellations and postponements:

• District 1 Advisory Board Meeting (Postponed): Rescheduled for Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m. at Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th St. N.
• District 4 Advisory Board Meeting (Postponed): Rescheduled for Wednesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. at the Alford Library Branch, 3447 S. Meridian.
• District 5 Advisory Board Meeting (Postponed): Rescheduled for Wednesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. at the Wichita Water Works Administration/Lab Building, 2120 N. Hoover Rd.
• District 1 Job Fair (Canceled)
• District 4 Job Fair (Canceled)
• District 5 Job Fair (Canceled)
• All Wichita Park & Recreation: All programs & classes scheduled after 3 p.m. on Monday, May 6 have been cancelled.
• CityArts (Early closing): CityArts will close at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 6 and all classes for this evening have been cancelled.
• Wichita Public Library: All Wichita Public Library locations will close at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 6.

12:45 p.m. - Bombardier announced it is closing the Wichita site at 3 p.m. and cancelling second shift and third shift.

11:40 a.m. - The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for the following counties: Barton, Ellis, Graham, Ness, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Trego. The watch is effective until 7:05 p.m. Monday.

10:40 a.m. - Wichita Public Schools announced that all evening activities Monday are canceled. That includes sports games and practices.

Latchkey and Monday’s Board of Education meeting are on as scheduled, though in-person student recognitions will not happen Monday.

School districts have begun planning for severe weather, which is due to arrive in south central Kansas at around 4 p.m. Monday.

Chaparral schools, located in Anthony and Harper, was among the first districts to announce an early release as severe weather approaches. Waconda, Lewis and South Barber were also in that early group, and several others have since followed.

Haysville schools sent a message to parents saying elementary students may be kept beyond their dismissal time to shelter inside the school. Parents can also pick up students before 3:15 Monday afternoon.

Click here to find a full list of closings.