USD 111 recognizes that having snow days can be both exciting and difficult for families, depending on various needs. Please have a proactive plan for childcare in the event the district closes due to weather. The district wants to emphasize that student, staff, and family safety is a TOP priority. The Superintendent, Director of Transportation, Principals, and Maintenance Director are all monitoring the road conditions across the district, which spans over 200 square miles. We also have staff members who commute from surrounding cities/communities. Our city & county sidewalks, parking lots, temperatures, district buses/vehicles, and forecasts are also monitored for decision-making. All of these factors are taken into consideration when student and staff safety is at stake. Thank you for understanding our process and procedures during these difficult decisions.

How Do We Make the Decision to Cancel School?

When bad weather affects the area, we make the decision to open or close schools based on information about road and weather conditions from a variety of sources - our maintenance and transportation staff, city road crews, local law enforcement, the National Weather Service, and local weather coverage.

A number of factors are considered when bad weather is forecasted or experienced:

• Amount and timing of accumulated snow and ice

• Road and local travel conditions throughout the day

• Temperature and wind chill (wind chills below -15ºF during walking and waiting times are given special consideration)

• Impact on bus transportation

• Site conditions (ensuring lots and sidewalks are safe and there is electricity, heat, and water)

*Parents always have the right to keep their student at home if they believe inclement weather will make for unsafe traveling conditions to/from school. Notify the school office of absence (in advance), and an appropriate time will be given to complete make-up assignments. If the student participates in an extra-curricular event, please check with the head coach/sponsor/director about participation in the event.*

School Closures due to weather conditions:

● School closures will also likely cancel all school activities and community groups that use our facilities on those days. If the weather significantly changes throughout the day it will be at the discretion of the administration to allow activities to be held as optional for students. We will communicate time changes, transportation supports, and other information that may apply to those activities.

● Winter weather communication will be sent out via text, email, social media, and the school website. We will communicate before 10 pm if confident of weather conditions, otherwise by 6:00 a:m on the morning of closure. Our goal is to inform you the night before to best support families. Please make sure that current phone numbers and email addresses are on file in Infinite Campus. Please contact your school office if you need any support making those changes.

● If there is a need for a delayed start, we will let families know as early as possible. A delayed start will only be an option if we have appropriate staffing and roads are driveable, but extra time is needed for some routes, and scheduling is conducive.

● Parents may choose to keep their children home for health and safety reasons. Please contact your child’s school to report their absence.

Early Release due to weather during school hours:

● The district will try to avoid unexpected early dismissals. On occasion, early dismissal is unavoidable.

● It is important for schools to be able to reach parents and designated childcare providers during daytime hours. Please make sure that current phone numbers and email addresses are on file in Infinite Campus. Please contact your school office if you need any support making those changes.

● When it is necessary to dismiss children early during a regular school day, the district will contact parents via text, email, and social media outlets. If weather conditions worsen and schools remain open, parents may choose to pick up their children early, after informing the school office staff.

Please review these winter weather safety tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: WinterSafety.pdf.