No School In Johnston Tomorrow

Public schools in Johnston will not open on Aug. 31 as originally scheduled, Supt. Dr. Bernard DiLullo announced this afternoon.

St. Rocco School will also be closed, according to a school staff person who answered the telephone on Aug. 30.

Update: WPRI.com also listed Trinity Christian Academy among local school closures on its Closings web page.

During a phone interview at about 1 p.m., DiLullo explained that after touring the district earlier in the day, school officials decided to delay the start of the school year because of concerns over transporting students.

"There are still some streets where trees are down," DiLullo said, "and some houses are still without electricity and water."

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, which swept through Rhode Island on Aug. 28, an estimated 3,800 National Grid customers in Johnston remained without power. Wind from the storm also brought down many trees in the area, including one that .

"It's really all about the students' safety at this point," DiLullo said, adding that he and other school officials were in the process of making a decision on whether to open Sept. 1.

Watch JohnstonPatch for future updates as needed.