A decision to open, close, or delay must be made by 5:30 a.m. or earlier so the district can notify bus drivers, staff, and families. If a later decision would be made to announce a closing, some parents will have already left for work, leaving their children unsupervised.
It is difficult to reverse the decision about opening schools without endangering students, even if weather conditions worsen. Once the decision is made to open the schools, parents rely on it and leave for work. Many students will return to unsupervised bus stops and empty houses if students are sent right back home. An early dismissal could occur if conditions worsen during the school day, but all possible attempts will be made to give adequate notice to parents first.
Although the district staff does the absolute best in this process, no perfect decision exists. If you do not feel as though it is safe for your child to attend school, use your best judgment on whether he or she should attend. Also, discourage teenagers from driving in bad conditions and offer them alternatives if weather conditions worsen.