CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Albemarle County Schools, closed since Jan. 26, will remain shuttered Tuesday due to ice that has accumulated on the tops of buses, according to an email sent to families Monday evening. The division is bringing in special equipment to de-ice the buses.

“We realize this change may be frustrating, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we respond to these challenging conditions,” the ACPS email said. “The safety of our students, staff, and the Albemarle community remain our top priority. Given the current situation, it is critical that all buses are free of ice before operating routes.”

ACPS hopes to be able to clear the ice from the busses, then have delayed openings, starting two-hours late on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

ACPS spokesperson Jason Grant told Cville Right Now the division has a fleet of 160 buses and most, if not all of them, were dealing with ice issues after the weekend. Work on de-icing, which requires lifts to get to the tops of the buses, began Monday. The buses are not all in one location. Some are parked at schools while others are at the homes of drivers who were anticipating running their routes Tuesday.

“It froze and bonded so it’s not like you can just brush it or pull it off,” Grant said.

The county had planned to open its schools on a two-hour delay Tuesday, but safety issues presented by the lingering ice issues forced a re-evaluation Monday afternoon.

“This afternoon, as a school bus was traveling, a piece of ice dislodged from the top of the bus and struck a vehicle,” the ACPS email said. “No one was injured, but the incident underscores the need to ensure that all buses are free of ice before they are used. Removing the ice safely takes time and requires specialized equipment, which ACPS has obtained. We are hopeful that the additional equipment, along with above-freezing temperatures tomorrow, will allow crews to continue making progress.”

Grant said the county roads had been successfully cleared by the Virginia Department of Transportation to the point that the division believes the buses can safely run their routes, once the ice is taken care of.

“There are challenges with some roads, walking routes, and bus stops, but we feel those are all manageable risks,” he said.