HOW DO WE MAKE OUR DECISION?

When inclement weather or loss of utilities impacts the District, we make the decision whether to close schools based upon a careful analysis of all relevant factors including:

·      Information on road conditions from our transportation staff, maintenance staff, and local safety forces.

• Amount of accumulated snow and ice.
• Whether precipitation is expected to continue throughout the day.
• Temperature and wind chill. (minus 15 to 20 degrees)
• Impact on our bus fleet.     
•  Weather predictions from satellite systems, local radar, National Weather and NOAA Weather Radio.
• Storm timing.
• Building conditions (such as whether there is electricity and/or heat).
• Discussions with Administrators from area school districts beginning the prior evening.

WHO MAKES THE DECISION?

As Superintendent of Schools, I am responsible for the final decision, based upon the factors above and consultation with Mark Donnelly, Director of Business Services.

WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE?

I try to make the decision by 5:30 a.m., so that we can notify local television and radio stations, post it to our web site, and notify staff.

WILL WE CLOSE SCHOOLS IF CONDITIONS WORSEN?

Even if weather conditions worsen we cannot reverse our decision in the morning without endangering student safety. When we make the decision to keep the schools open, many parents rely on it and leave for work. If we then send students back home, many will return to empty houses. Once students arrive at school, we feel the safest plan is to keep them at school until the end of the school day.

Although we do our absolute best in this process by carefully considering all information, we know that weather forecasting is an imperfect science and often no perfect decision exists. As always, our top priority is the safety of our students. If you do not feel that it is safe for your child to get to school, use your best judgment as to whether or not he or she should attend.

I hope that this explanation helps in understanding the process used to make the best possible decision for everyone in the district.

Sincerely,

John J. Krupinski