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SCHOOL CANCELLATION PROCEDURE

            Schools will be open during stormy weather unless it is considered too dangerous for students to commute to school. In the event of stormy or questionable weather, please keep tuned to the listed radio and television stations for school information. The decision to keep school open, delay opening, cancel or close school for the day is made by the Superintendent of Schools in collaboration with the police and highway departments. It is not a decision that is made quickly or lightly. We prefer that school be in session as scheduled, but understand that weather conditions may be such that student safety would be compromised. In the event of a major snowstorm, schools may be canceled as early as 6:00 A.M.  You will receive an Alert Now message from our superintendent to your home phone number of any cancellation or delay of school. 

Announcements of school closing are also broadcast on the following radio and television stations. 

DELAYED OPENINGS

            If weather conditions are stormy at 6:00 A.M. but are expected to improve by mid-morning, a delayed school opening will be announced on the same radio and television stations as no-school announcements.  You will also receive an Alert Now message on your home phone number.

On a delayed opening:

·        Schools will open two (2) hours after the regular starting time.  HPS opens at 10:23 and HUES opens at 10:30

·        Bus pick-ups will also be delayed two hours

·        The A.M. session of Kindergarten will be canceled

·        Hot lunch will be served as usual

·        Grades 1 - 6 will be dismissed at the regular time

If weather conditions do not improve as forecast, the delayed opening may be changed to a "No-School" announcement. This change will be announced over local stations and via Alert Now prior to 8:30 A.M.  

                                                EMERGENCY EARLY RELEASE PROCEDURE

            The Superintendent of Schools in collaboration with the Bus Contractor, local Police and the highway department also determine if an early dismissal from school due to inclement weather is appropriate. When it has been determined that children will be dismissed early, the same radio and television stations will be notified.  Parents should tune to radio/television stations if weather is stormy and they are concerned about whether school might be dismissed. This occurs very infrequently and only as the result of an unexpected storm and road conditions that are determined to be increasingly dangerous.  Quite often the highway department will advise the Superintendent of Schools that it is safer for students to remain in school until normal dismissal time. This often allows the highway department time to plow and/or treat road surfaces.

            As soon as a decision for early dismissal is made we begin to implement the emergency plan that was developed by you and your child in September.  Because of the limited number of phone lines it is impossible for us to call families of our students from school to inform them of an early dismissal. Therefore, we urge you to review the plan you developed for your children to follow if they are dismissed early or if they should arrive home to an empty house. The emergency plans take precedence over any other arrangement for that day.  There is virtually no carpool on an emergency early dismissal day.

KINDERGARTEN CANCELLATION PROCEDURE

            Morning sessions or kindergarten are cancelled when school is delayed. The afternoon sessions of kindergarten will be canceled when the forecast indicates inclement afternoon weather would negatively impact road conditions. This decision is usually made between 10:00 and 11:00 AM. The same radio and television stations will broadcast the cancellation. Please watch your television if the weather is worsening. We ask you not to call the school; the information is given to the radio and television stations at the same time the schools are notified of the decision.