NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — New Hanover County schools began classes as usual Monday, but shortly after students began classes, the district announced that schools would be out two hours early.

This led to great frustration among parents, who asked why the start of classes was not at least postponed.

Interim Superintendent Chris Barnes issued the following statement late Monday afternoon.

“I want to apologize to the students, families and staff of New Hanover County Schools for the decision to keep schools open during the tropical storm that hit our region this morning. I understand the frustration and concern this has caused, and I want to openly address the situation.

When severe weather is looming, we consult with the county emergency management agency and the National Weather Service in Wilmington to determine whether school operations need to be postponed or canceled entirely.

Our priority is always to make the best decision based on the information available at the time. Unfortunately, the amount of precipitation and weather conditions far exceeded all predictions when we made the decision to keep school open last night. The severity of today’s storm caught our community by surprise.

Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our students and staff. As a father myself, I know the hardship and frustration that a day like today brings to families.

I promise the NHCS community that now that staff and students are safely at home, we will reevaluate our processes and look at where we can improve.

We all want the best for students and staff. I know we agree on that. I regret that I have not achieved that today, and I hope the community can trust that I am doing everything I can to put their well-being first.

The early school closure will be waived for all staff, and I have asked the school board to excuse the absences of students whose families did not send them to school today. Due to flooding in coastal areas, I have now made the decision to schedule a remote learning day on Tuesday to assess our buildings before students return. Staff who can safely come to work can do so; if not, they can work from home.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we navigate through this difficult situation. I appreciate everyone’s hard work and dedication. Please stay safe.