When extreme weather conditions exist, the district may cancel school or utilize a two-hour delayed start when temporary adverse weather conditions exist. When possible, inclement weather announcements will be made the day before so staff and families can plan. When schools are closed, there will be no remote learning or teaching and decisions on activities will be made later in the day. There will be no announcement if school is in session. The superintendent makes the final decision by 6 a.m.

HOW WE MAKE OUR DECISION

When winter weather moves through our area, there are many safety and operational considerations before the decision is made to close schools.

• Weather service information - The district receives updates from the national weather service for information on weather conditions and forecasts, specific to our area.

• Transportation - District Office administration actively monitors road conditions and access to neighborhoods and streets that are more challenging during times of inclement weather.

• Amounts of snow and ice accumulated.

• Whether snow/ice is continuing.

• Building conditions - Schools are checked to make sure electricity and heat are working properly.

• Parking lot and sidewalk conditions - Administrators talk to maintenance and custodial staff who are responsible for clearing and treating school parking lots and sidewalks.

• Temperature and wind chill.

• Discussion with city and county officials about snow removal status for city and county roads.

• Discussion with other area school districts.

The district asks parents to do all they can to dress students appropriately for the conditions, especially students who walk to school or ride the bus. While the process we use is comprehensive, we understand that you may not agree with the district's decision to close school or keep school open. Please know if weather conditions are severe, you have the option of keeping your child at home. In this case, please contact your school's office and your child's absence will be recorded as an excused absence.

TWO-HOUR DELAYED START

In the event of a two-hour delayed start, all school start times will be delayed by two hours. All morning bus pick-up times will also be delayed by two hours. Schools will end their day at the regular time and bus routes will operate on their normal schedule. Important information for a two-hour delayed start. Classes may still be canceled for the entire day should weather and/or road conditions fail to improve. If this is the case, additional email and text notifications will be sent to families and updates provided to the designated media outlets.

Hours of School

• All start times are delayed by two hours.

• All schools will start at 10:00 a.m.

• No AM preK classes

Transportation

• All K-12 routes run two hours later.

• All field trips and activity trips leaving before noon are canceled.

• Mid-day shuttles between school facilities before noon are canceled.

• Mid-day special education shuttles before noon of students to and from private schools/home school are canceled. Shuttles after noon will run on time.

• After-school bus routes operate on the normal schedule.

Before the School Day

• Breakfast will not be served. Lunch to be served as close to the normal time as possible.

• No athletic practices or activities before school. Practices and games may be held after school depending on weather.

School Day – Schedule

• Classes will occur on the typical daily schedule with shorter instructional times per class.

• School ends at the regular time.

• Students enrolled in community college or technical college classes will follow that institutions inclement weather decisions.

NOTIFICATION

1. District website - An announcement will be posted on the homepage.

2. Social media

3. Email - Staff and families will receive an email with weather-related school closing information.

4. Text - Texts will be sent to all families with a mobile number on file. If you do not receive a text, make sure you have a mobile number entered in Skyward or call the front office of your child's school.

5. Media outlets - Monitor any of these local media outlets: KSN-TV (Ch. 3), KAKE-TV (Ch. 10), and KWCH-TV (Ch. 12).

If severe weather continues and classes are canceled the following day, families will be notified in the same manner as the day before. Otherwise, families should assume classes will be in session.