Central Indiana Schools Resume In-Person Learning After Weather Disruptions

Schools aim to get students back in classrooms after snow and cold kept many home this week.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:39pm

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After several days of virtual learning due to inclement weather, many central Indiana schools are planning to resume in-person instruction on Thursday, including Herron Classical Schools. Herron-Riverside High School head Emanuel Harper said the school had to factor in student safety with road conditions and low temperatures, but is now preparing to welcome students back with support from staff to help them readjust.

Why it matters

The shift between in-person and remote learning can be disruptive for students, both academically and socially. Schools need to balance safety concerns with the importance of maintaining consistent classroom instruction and supporting students' overall wellbeing.

The details

Herron-Riverside High School head Emanuel Harper said the school had to shift to virtual learning earlier this week due to bad road conditions and low temperatures that made it unsafe for students, especially younger ones, to travel to school. However, Harper said the school has worked to ensure learning continues at home, with teachers providing live online instruction and assignments through platforms like Google Classroom.

  • On Monday, many central Indiana schools shifted to virtual learning due to the weather.
  • On Wednesday, most schools were still operating virtually.
  • On Thursday, Herron Classical Schools and other districts plan to resume in-person learning, though with a two-hour delay.

The players

Emanuel Harper

Head of school for Herron-Riverside High School.

Herron Classical Schools

A network of public charter schools in central Indiana.

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What they’re saying

“Even though the weather is preventing us from being in-person, the learning doesn't stop.”

— Emanuel Harper, Head of school, Herron-Riverside High School (fox59.com)

“Last Friday, when we thought there might be a snow day on Monday, we communicated with our staff, our students and our families to make sure they had their devices, so that when teachers posted work on Google Classroom, students could avail themselves of it.”

— Emanuel Harper, Head of school, Herron-Riverside High School (fox59.com)

“Recognizing the social, emotional layers of returning to school are going to be important and something that our school counselors, our admin team, are going to be thinking about because that can also be an important piece of building community, just recognizing the variety of experiences our students had.”

— Emanuel Harper, Head of school, Herron-Riverside High School (fox59.com)

What’s next

As of Wednesday night, Herron-Riverside High School plans to resume in-person learning on Thursday, but with a two-hour delay. School officials say they will continue to monitor the weather and road conditions and may adjust the schedule further if needed.

The takeaway

The shift between in-person and remote learning can be disruptive for students, both academically and socially. Schools like Herron Classical Schools are working to balance safety concerns with the importance of maintaining consistent classroom instruction and supporting students' overall wellbeing as they transition back to in-person learning.