RICHLAND ONE OUTLINES SEVERE WEATHER PROCEDURES

Inevitably during the school year, there will be times that severe weather may prompt a late start, early dismissal or cancellation of school.

In the event of severe weather, Richland One has procedures in place to make decisions about whether school and/or work schedules will be modified and notify students, parents, district employees and the community as quickly as possible.

Here’s how it works:

* When severe weather is forecast, district officials monitor weather reports, consult with transportation staff and local emergency preparedness agencies, and communicate with neighboring school districts in making a decision that is in the best interest of students, parents and employees in Richland One.

* The superintendent makes the decision by 5:45 a.m. whether to proceed with normal schedules, delay the opening of school or cancel school for the day. In some instances, the decision can be made the preceding afternoon or evening. One of the key factors is whether our buses will be able to travel safely as they carry students to and from school.

* Once a decision has been made about the school day, district officials will contact parents via the district’s automated phone notification system. Announcements of school closings or delays also will be sent to local news media and posted on the district’s Web site at www.richlandone.org and on Richland One TV (Time Warner Cable channel 12). Parents, students and employees may call the Richland One InfoPhone at 231-7512 for the most up-to-date information. Parents are urged not to call the schools because doing so could hinder district emergency communications.
Other school emergencies, such as power failures, lack of water or sewage problems, also may result in school closings, delayed openings or early dismissals. Similar notification procedures would be followed at the district or school level, including whether after-school programs, child-care programs and sports activities will proceed as scheduled.

In the event of a two-hour delay, all school opening schedules will be pushed back two hours and bus pick-up times will be adjusted accordingly.

Parents are urged to make arrangements in advance and establish an emergency plan for their children in the event that schools are closed, start late or dismissed early.

Please note that state law requires students to receive 180 days of instruction. Days missed will have to be made up at some other time during the school year. Richland One has designated three dates in the 2008-09 academic calendar that would be used as make-up days if necessary: February 16, April 13 and May 30.

The decision whether to cancel school, start late or dismiss early during severe weather conditions is seldom an easy one, but the safety of our students and employees will continue to be our most important consideration.

For more information, call the Office of Communications at 231-7504.

 

 

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