Who makes the decision to delay or close schools? The decision to delay start of school or to cancel for the day is made based on weather conditions, considering the current situation as well as temperature and weather forecasts. The Superintendent ultimately makes the decision.

How is the decision made? The Superintendent and the Directors of Transportation, Facilities and Safety begin the process – typically early in the morning (about 3 a.m.) – by driving roads, checking with local law enforcement and city, county and state highway officials. School bus drivers in various parts of the county help by driving roads, calling other drivers and then reporting back to the transportation director about road conditions in their areas. Usually superintendents from surrounding school systems, especially the other school system in Monroe County, are contacted to compare notes.

When all information is collected, the Superintendent receives a recommendation from the safety director and a decision is made.

If the decision is based on cold rather than inclement weather, a forecast of below zero weather is considered to be dangerous for children who may be walking or waiting for a bus. However, the wind-chill factor is also taken into consideration. For example zero without wind may not be as hazardous as a temperature of 10 with a wind-chill factor that brings the temperature to -5.

On some occasions the Superintendent will decide to delay start of school for two hours rather than to cancel for the day. This is especially true when the forecast projects frigid weather, fog, or snow that came late in the night. This gives the transportation department time to make sure all buses are started, warmed up and ready to go. In some cases the delay keeps school buses and other vehicles off the road at the time snow plows and sand trucks are treating the roads. It also gives facilities people time to check out school buildings to make sure they are warm, without frozen pipes, have sanded sidewalks and driveways, etc. and are safe for children to be there. Delaying for two hours usually assures that students will be picked up when it is daylight and perhaps the sun will even be shining to take away some of the chill.

When is the decision made and how can I find out if school is delayed or closed? The decision is made as early as possible – target time is no later than 5:30 a.m. Once a decision is made, about 24 radio and television stations are notified. Additionally, the announcement is recorded on the main switchboard at the Administration Center (330-7700) and it is added to the school system’s website.

Why not just decide to close school (or delay) based on the weather forecast the night before? It is very difficult to make a decision to delay or close school based on a predicted forecast, especially when the forecast relates to snow. Many times the forecast is accurate but often a turn of events may, for example, find a lot of snow in an adjacent county but none in this school district. If the snow does not come and school has been canceled the night before, parents who didn’t hear the announcement would not even think to check for it if there is no snow the next morning.

When is a decision made to dismiss students early? Schools are rarely dismissed early because it is extremely difficult to contact parents of all children to make sure that someone will be at home when they arrive early. If a decision is made to dismiss early, it takes two hours to get all bus drivers available and ready to run bus routes. For example, if elementary schools were dismissed two hours early (1:15 p.m.) the decision would have to be made at 11:15 a.m. Since these children start the school day at 9:00 a.m. it is unlikely that weather circumstances would have changed much in a two-hour period of time. If an unexpected mid-day snow storm arrives, a decision to dismiss students in the middle of the storm is not in their best interest. It is better to allow snow plows and sand trucks to work on the roads before sending busloads of children home.

I think schools should have been closed – it is not safe to be on the road and I don’t want my child to go out in this weather. Each parent has a right to determine if his/her child will go to school. If the parent feels it is unsafe, he/she has every right to keep the child at home. The child will be counted absent with parent consent but he/she may make up any work missed.

Do we have to make up days missed? If school is delayed no more than two hours, the school system does not have to ‘make up’ that time lost. If school is canceled, the day(s) canceled must be made up and they are added to the end of the school year calendar.

PROCEDURES FOR CANCELING ATHLETIC/EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS