School emergency closings may happen at any time. It is encouraged that parents and children plan for the expectations should an emergency school closing occur immediately prior to the start of school and also during the school day.
Please understand that the determination to close our schools requires a great deal of research and communication prior to becoming final. The Superintendent, Transportation Manager, Road Commissioners, and neighboring superintendents all communicate prior to making decisions. We will communicate our closing information with the radio and television media as soon as the decision is made in order for you to be promptly informed. The District office phone lines will also have a global message on them for any closing. Our local numbers are 385-2213 (District), 385-4660 (PHS), and 385-4994 (PGS).
The time of the decision may occur as early as the evening before school if advance weather conditions are known. Most likely, the decision will be made no later than 6:30 a.m. on the day of the closing, however are usually made prior to 6:00 a.m. In an extreme situation, school may need to be dismissed during the school day. In this case, all efforts will be made to make personal contact with all families prior to dismissal.
The following factors are involved in the decision
making:
· Road Conditions dictate many of our decision. Due to the large square miles of our school district, the Superintendent and the Transportation Manager travel the roads as early as 4:45 a.m. during inclement weather to check visibility, passability, drifting, and icy conditions.
· Snow is typically not the primary reason for closing school. If road are passable, school will be in session. Please plan on school being in session regardless of the amount of snow fall.
· Air temperature and wind chill are also a factor in the decision making process. When the air temperature falls to -10 degrees below zero, school will most likely still be in session. When the wind chill falls below -20 degrees below zero, it is likely school will be cancelled, depending on the forecast for the rest of the day. The safety of our students is our first priority.
· Weather forecasts and predications are not primary reasons to close schools. When added to other situations state above, forecasts may lead towards closing school.