Wayne County, N.C. — Two schools in the Wayne County Public Schools district—Fremont Elementary School and Norwayne Middle School—have been closed for the day due to a prolonged power outage affecting the area.

The outage, which began overnight, has disrupted essential systems at both campuses, including heating and cooling, lighting, kitchen operations, and internet connectivity. After assessing the situation early this morning, district officials determined that it would not be safe or feasible to conduct a full school day under these conditions.

As a result, all students from both schools are being dismissed early. School staff are working to ensure an orderly and safe dismissal process. Parents and guardians have been notified and are urged to make arrangements for pickup as soon as possible. Buses are also being deployed for students who rely on district transportation.

“We understand that unexpected closures can be challenging for families,” said a district spokesperson. “However, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are always our top priorities. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we respond to this situation.”

The district is currently working with local utility providers to monitor the status of the outage and will provide updates as more information becomes available. At this time, no decision has been made regarding school operations for tomorrow.

Parents are encouraged to stay tuned to official school communications, including emails, text alerts, and the district website, for the latest updates.