INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES
The Superintendent is empowered to close the district schools, delay the opening of schools, or dismiss them early in the event of hazardous weather or other emergencies which threaten the health or safety of students and personnel. Such action is never to be taken lightly, for public education is one of the principal functions of the community and should be maintained at a normal level except in extreme circumstances.
The School Districts buses will not operate when weather conditions due to fog, rain, snow or other natural elements make it unsafe to do so. Because weather conditions may vary around the district and may change quickly, the best judgment will be used that is possible with the information available.
If school is canceled, school opening is delayed, or school is dismissed early due to inclement weather conditions, announcements will be made on the local radio and television stations, the district hotline and website, Snowcap, and other communication technologies.
When weather conditions deteriorate after the buses are on route, the bus driver will make on route decisions concerning the visibility conditions and the safety of students. Every attempt will be made to stop at all designated stops. However, if visibility at any given stop is less than 300 feet, the bus will proceed onto the next safe stop. Should conditions at a given location be such that the driver deems it unsafe to load or unload students, the bus driver will radio the dispatcher and advise the condition of the stop. The dispatcher will instruct the driver to miss those stops and will call the homes of students involved advising parents to transport their own children. It would be the parent's decision whether to send the children to school or keep them home.
When weather conditions deteriorate during the day after school has begun, students will be returned home if conditions permit. If weather conditions make transportation too hazardous, students will be kept at their school of attendance until such time that road conditions permit school buses to transport them home or until parents can pick up the students at their attendance center.
Adopted: January 13, 1986
Reviewed: February 13, 1995
March 8, 1999
December 15, 2003
August, 2006
August, 2008
December 16, 2013
Revised: November 11, 1997
January 20, 2014