When winter weather arrives, school operations can be impacted by snow, ice, and dangerous road conditions. Our priority is ensuring student safety while balancing the needs of families. Here’s what you need to know about how we make decisions on weather-related school closures, delays, and notifications.
How We Monitor Weather and Road Conditions
Our district works closely with local law enforcement, highway departments, and our bus company to gather up-to-date information about road conditions. School officials monitor the weather continually, especially in the early morning hours, to determine if travel conditions are safe for buses, student drivers, students who walk to school, and staff. You can often find district office personnel out on the road between 4 and 5 a.m. on days when forecasts call for winter weather conditions.
Balancing Safety and Family Needs
We understand that many families rely on schools as a safe place for children while parents are at work. For some children, school is the only place where they receive consistent meals. These realities weigh heavily in every decision we make.
Addressing a Common Misconception
There’s a myth that schools stay open during bad weather to avoid losing funding. In fact, the opposite is true. On inclement weather days when schools remain open, attendance is often lower, which can actually reduce our funding. The decision to stay open or close is never based on financial considerations. It’s always made with safety and family needs in mind.
How and When You’ll Be Notified
If we decide to delay or cancel school, we will notify families through multiple channels:
Text messages and emails: Sent as soon as the decision is made.
Phone calls: Sent as close to 6 a.m. as possible to ensure families have time to adjust plans.
Website and social media: Updated immediately with any changes.
Now is a great time to ensure your contact information is up-to-date with the school. Make sure your phone number is correct and that you’ve enabled text notifications from the district.
Help Us Prepare
We encourage parents to take a few proactive steps to help us keep students safe and informed during the winter months:
Update contact information with your child’s school to ensure you receive notifications.
Review your emergency plans for child care in the event of a school closure.
Dress your child for the weather, even if they typically ride the bus—weather changes can be unpredictable, and extra layers (and an extra pair of socks) help keep everyone comfortable.
Thank You for Your Patience
We know weather-related changes can disrupt your routines, and we do our best to make decisions quickly and communicate them promptly. Our goal is always to keep students safe while minimizing disruptions as much as possible. Thank you for your understanding and support during the winter months!