USD 247 Inclement Weather School Closing Protocol

We understand that the decision to open or close schools during inclement weather greatly impacts our families. Our commitment is to balance the academic and social needs of our students with their safety and the safety of our staff, which remains our top priority.

Decision Making Process for Closing Schools During Inclement Weather

When inclement weather threatens, we make our decision to remain open or close schools from information gathered from a variety of sources. These sources include our maintenance and transportation staff, city and state road crews, local and national weather channels, local law enforcement, and Crawford and Cherokee County Emergency Management. Many factors such as the following are considered:

• Amount of accumulated snow and ice
• Conditions of streets, highways, county roads, school parking lots and sidewalks
• Weather predictions and duration of conditions throughout the day
• Temperature and wind chill (extreme negative wind chills during key walking and waiting-for-bus times are given special consideration)
• Impact on our transportation fleet (school bus diesel fuel begins to gel at temperatures below zero degrees)
• Building conditions (is electricity, heat, and water available)

Who Makes the Decision?

Ultimately, the Superintendent is responsible for the final decision, but this decision is not made in isolation as input is gathered from all of the resources listed above. When conditions warrant, we are out driving the roads starting at 4:00 A.M. where we will check main throughways as well as side and rural roads to determine their safety.

When is the Decision Made and How is That Communicated?

Our goal is to make the decision between 5:00-5:30 AM, and if possible, by 10:00 PM the previous evening. Please keep in mind that unusual weather conditions may force us to make the decision after this time.

If school is closed that information will be provided through the following outlets as quickly as possible:

• District PowerSchool communication via phone, text, and email. Please make sure your information is up to date in our PowerSchool system to ensure you receive notifications.
• Local TV: KOAM TV 7/Fox 14 and KSNF/KODE TV

Note: Please remember, if school is closed all after school activities, including after school programs, meetings, practices/games, and/or programs will be canceled as well, unless otherwise noted.

Will We Close Schools Once Opened if Conditions Worsen?

We understand the challenges of unexpected school closures, especially for working families. To minimize disruptions, we aim to avoid closing schools once they are open, unless safety conditions significantly worsen.

While we strive to make the best decision, we recognize it may not be perfect for everyone. If you do not feel that it is safe for your child to get to school, please use your best judgment as to whether or not he or she should attend. Also, please discourage teenagers from driving in bad conditions and offer alternatives as weather conditions worsen. All absences due to weather will be excused if a parent/guardian notifies the school that a child will not be attending due to weather conditions.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff.

Respectfully,

Dr. Brad Miner, Superintendent