Extreme Cold: What's Closed, What's Open in Plainfield

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In response to the potentially dangerous cold, area school districts began announcing closures on Sunday — including the rarely closed Chicago Public Schools.

Here's what's closed in the Plainfield area:

• Plainfield School District 202
• Plainfield Township offices
• Plainfield Public Library programs and meetings
• Plainfield Park District programs and classes
• St. Mary Immaculate Parish School (Plainfield)
• Troy School District
• Valley View School District
• Milne-Kelvin Grove District 91 (Lockport)
• Oswego School District 308
• Minooka Community High School District 111
• Minooka School District 201
• Montessori of Plainfield
• Joliet Catholic Academy
• Joliet West/Joliet Central
• Joliet Grade School District 86
• Richland School District 88A
• Joliet Junior College (all campuses)
• Lewis University (all locations)
• University of St. Francis

For more closings, visit the Emergency Closing Center.

District 202 school closings weren't announced until after 1 p.m., a fact that drew criticism from some Plainfield-area residents.

"The Chicago Public Schools will be closed on Monday. So when is the PSD 202 going to follow suit? Monday morning at 6:20am?," one resident wrote in a post on Patch.

"They need to just make the call," another wrote on Plainfield Patch's Facebook page early Sunday afternoon, after several nearby districts had already announced closures. "It's not like a warm front is going to just show up."

District 202's school board meeting is still scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, and the Plainfield village Committee of the Whole meeting is still slated to begin at 7 p.m. at village hall.

So far, District 202 has had two snow days (Jan. 6 and 7) due to extremely cold weather. With temperatures expected to be even colder on Tuesday, that could mean a fourth day off.

Earlier this month, the district adjusted its calendar to account for the days off. But if the severe weather keeps up, it won't necessarily mean more make-up days for students.

Under state law, schools must build at least five emergency days into their school year calendars. After that, districts can apply for an "Act of God" day — a day when conditions pose a risk to student safety or health. "Act of God" days do not need to be made up.

Library meeting cancelled

Monday's Plainfield Public Library Finance Committee Meeting of the Board of Trustees, originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m., has been cancelled due to extreme temperature concerns.

It will be rescheduled for a later date.

YMCA is open

The CW Avery Family YMCA will be open Monday.

From the YMCA:
"Plainfield District 202 parents are invited to register their children for Day Out of School at the Y on Monday, January 27. Children, grades K-8, may be signed in at the C.W. Avery Family Y as early as 7 a.m. and signed out as late as 6 p.m. All participants should bring a sack lunch, a drink, snacks, swimsuit and a towel. Cost is $30 for Full Members and $45 for Program Members.

"To register, please visit www.jolietymca.org or call the Y at (815) 267-8600."

Garbage pickup

Early Monday morning, Village of Plainfield Community Relations Director Amy De Boni said garbage and recycling pickup for residents with Monday collection ishappening.