RED LAKE SCHOOL DISTRICT EMERGENCY WEATHER RELATED CLOSING POLICY

602A - RED LAKE SCHOOL EMERGENCY WEATHER RELATED CLOSING

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide for a more uniform determination of emergency weather conditions under which the school may be closed.

General Statement

The District recognizes the need for community, employees, parents and students to be effectively informed when emergency weather conditions require the school to close.

Notice

Notice of weather related school closings will be made over radio/television stations and automated telephone

calling/texting/email with as much advanced notice as possible. The following states will carry weather-related

announcements:

a. KB101 Radio and affiliate stations

b. WCCO-TV

c. School Reach Automated telephone calling/texting/email service.

Parents are advised to listen for weather related announcements and telephone calls during stormy days. Checking text and email services are also advised.

Conditions for School Closure

The decision to close school is actually made early in the morning because buses must start their routes early due to the size of the District and length of the routes. The criteria for school closing due to inclement weather include but are not limited to the following:

Temperature

a. At 5:00 a.m. - If the actual air temperature in District is 35 degrees below zero or colder according the official temperature listed on http://www.noaa.gov : school and buses will be two (2) hours late.

b. At 7:00 a.m. - If the actual air temperature in the District is 35 degrees below zero or colder according to the official temperature listed on http://www.noaa.gov: school and buses will be cancelled for the day.

Blizzard Conditions

a. At 5:00 a.m. - If blizzard conditions exist within the District reducing visibility with dangerous wind chills: school and buses will be two (2) hours late.

b. At 7:00 a.m. - If blizzard conditions exist within the District reducing visibility with dangerous wind chills: school and buses will be cancelled for the day.

Snow Accumulation

a. At 5:00 a.m. - If accumulated snow makes roads impassable: school and buses will be two (2) hours late.

b. At 7:00 a.m. - If accumulated snow makes roads impassable: school and buses cancelled for the day.

The first consideration in closing school is the safety of students. The Superintendent, Transportation Director and School Board Chair gather the best information available which may include existing weather related conditions, weather forecasts and reports from Red Lake Highway Department, Red Lake Department of Public Safety and the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office before making this decision.

Parent Discretion

The District uses the best information available to weather related decisions. The District recognizes that parents have the discretion to keep their student(s) home if they deem the weather conditions unsafe for their student(s) to attend school.

Parents are reminded that if they exercise this option that they must call their student(s) school to excuse their

student(s). Failure to contact the school will result in an unexcused absence for their student(s).

Amended: August 20, 2014

http://www.redlake.k12.mn.us/files/user/18/file/602A%20Emergency%20Weather%20Related%20Closing.pdf