Inclement Weather

Winter Weather Decisions and Alert Updates For 2023-24

The decision whether to not have school in person for the day, call a “Two-Hour Late Start” to school, dismiss school early, or not call off school during inclement weather or other situations is a difficult decision. The decision involves consideration of multiple issues.

When a decision is made we will send out a notification on the district app (if you have that option activated) and a text alert (no phone calls). The alerts will go out prior to 10 p.m. the night before or after 5:00 a.m. if we are not having school in person or will have a late start. We hope these times will serve to inform you while accommodating your schedules. This will be in addition to television, radio, website, Facebook, and Twitter announcements. If you do not receive an app notification or text, we do encourage you to check the other options.

To download the district app, click here.

The district will use up to six days as virtual learning days. This will allow us to not have to make up any days at the end of the school year. Teachers will send work home for the youngest grades, and mid-elementary through high school will post assignments online or communicate with you about the virtual learning plan.

In the event of the school being dismissed early, the notification will go out as soon as the decision has been made so that you have as much time to plan as possible. As is the case when we don’t have school in person, it is, of course, the parents/guardians’ responsibility to make the necessary arrangements for this change of schedule. This responsibility is the same for a late-start day.

We encourage you to talk and make plans NOW so these plans are in place ahead of time.

If a late-start decision is made, all buses will run two hours later than their normal Tuesday-Friday schedule regardless of the day, and school will begin two hours later than the normal Tuesday-Friday start time. For example, the high school would start at 9:30 for a two-hour late start, even if the late start was on a Monday. For ELC and ECC late start information, click here.

If you as a parent feel it is unsafe to have your child(ren) attend school in person, please know that decision continues to be yours…one the school district will respect. However, all absences will be recorded. Only verified weather-related absences (areas where our bus routes have been canceled) will be treated as “excused.” This decision (excused/unexcused) will be made by the building principal alone.

In an attempt to provide a service to those who wish to drop off their child(ren) at school on their way to work in the morning of a late-start day, the building principal will have someone near the front door to welcome your child(ren) to school beginning at 7:30 a.m. (grades 5-12) and 8:30 a.m. (grades PreK-4).

We encourage those students that take the bus to continue to do so, especially since it is one of the safest ways of traveling during bad weather. We are also asking parents who typically take their child(ren) to school to continue to do so, just two hours later than normal.

The fundamental purpose of a Two-Hour Late Start is to allow the early morning weather conditions and daylight to improve, thus making travel safer for those we serve.

Questions? Please contact your principal or the district office. We will be more than happy to discuss this information with you. Thank you.

Outdoor Recess and Colder Temperatures
Inclement Weather and the Early Childhood Program

Outdoor Recess and Colder Temperatures

With the winter season coming near, we wanted to notify you of our procedure for outdoor recess. Currently, students remain inside when temperatures dip below 25 degrees including wind chill. The U.S. Department of Education states there is no national temperature standard for when to keep kids inside during the winter months. Decisions are made at the local level, either by principals or school districts. In fact, an article in the USA Today showed temperatures ranged from 40 degrees in Southern states to 20 degrees below zero in states such as Minnesota as to when children are brought inside. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Cold weather does not cause colds or flu. But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other.”

Encouraging children to get outside, get moving, and connect with the natural world are all ways to reverse childhood obesity rates. But, the benefits don’t stop there. Kids who play outside are happier, healthier, and stronger. According to health experts (Fjortoft 2004; Burdette and Whitaker 2005), children who play outdoors regularly:

Become more fit and lean
Develop stronger immune systems
Have more active imaginations
Have lower stress levels
Play more creatively
Have greater respect for themselves and others

Time spent outdoors is also the best way to get vitamin D. According to the journal Pediatrics, 70% of American kids are not getting enough vitamin D, which can lead to a host of health issues. Time spent outdoors is also shown to reduce myopia (near sightedness) in children (Optometry and Vision Science, 2008).

Outdoor play is not just FUN, it’s good for our kids. Please be sure to dress your children appropriately as the weather continues to get cooler. If your family is in need of appropriate winter clothing, please contact your school’s counselor.

If you have questions, contact your child's principal.

In an effort to be consistent, we will use one central weather service to determine temperature. CLICK HERE for current conditions.