Policy 8220 - SCHOOL CLOSURE, DELAY START, EARLY DISMISSAL
The following is the procedure for calling off school due to inclement weather and the guidelines for delayed starting of school or early dismissal.
Deciding whether to close school, delay start, or early dismissal because of hazardous weather is one of the most difficult decisions which faces the administrative staff and is probably the least understood procedure in the school system. Because weather and road conditions will sometimes change between the evening hours and the time that school commences, many times a decision cannot be made until 4:00-5:00 in the morning. What would appear to be hazardous conditions at 9 o’clock in the evening may change during the night, depending on temperatures and the amount of work that the Department of Highway crews can accomplish.
Power outages, water line breaks, and other environmental factors could also cause a school closure, delay start, or early dismissal.
There is a definite procedure for making such decisions. Contact is made with the Department of Highways, the National Weather Service as well as with bus operators in various areas in the county. With this information, it is the responsibility of the superintendent and the assistant superintendent in charge of operations and facilities to make the decision for the opening or closing of school.
All buses are equipped with chains, and the operators are instructed, “When in doubt, chain up”. Drivers also have the option of deciding whether to make their particular runs. If, in their opinion, there are hazardous conditions in their area, they can contact the supervisor of transportation and advise him/her of these conditions.
If the decision is made to close, delay start, or early dismissal, an announcement will be made as soon as possible via Thrillshare, local radio and television stations as well as on the board website (www.harcoboe.net) and on the West Virginia Department of Education website (http://wvde.state.wv.us).
Finally, part of this decision must be made by parents. If, in the opinion of a parent, conditions exist in his/her part of the county which might be dangerous, he/she should definitely consider these factors in determining whether to send his/her child(ren) to school. Consideration should also be given to the length of time that the child(ren) wait(s) for bus transportation. Parents should use their own judgment if they feel the length of time is excessive. Absences due to parental discretions regarding inclement weather conditions shall be considered as excused absences. Therefore, schools shall not penalize students by reducing grades, but shall provide the opportunity for work missed to be made up.
Delayed Start:
In the event that hazardous road conditions or weather necessitate a delayed start of school openings, the following guidelines shall apply:
School opening may be delayed two or three hours.
Principals will adjust their respective school schedules to accommodate for the delay.
Lunch shall be as near the regular time as possible to coordinate with UTC.
In case of a two-hour delay, buses will run to UTC for the morning.
In case of a two-hour delay, there will be gifted classes.
In case of a three-hour delay, buses will only run for afternoon UTC.
In case of a three-hour delay, there will be no gifted classes.
Dismissals at the end of the day will be at regular time.
Early Dismissal:
In the event that school needs to be closed early during the day, the following guidelines shall apply.
In the case of a two-hour early dismissal the UTC buses will run in the p.m.
Lunch will be adjusted so that students may have an opportunity to eat.
Principals will adjust their respective school schedules to accommodate for the early dismissal.
Closure of School due to Weather or Other Natural Event:
In the event that school is cancelled due to weather or other natural event the following guidelines shall apply:
Local news outlets/ media will announce if school is an Ice Pack Day or regular closure.
If an Ice Pack Day, students must compete the work assigned for that day. For example, if it is Ice Pack Day number 4 students will complete the work for day four only. Ice Packets will be made available to students with five (5) days of work. There will only be five (5) possible days called as Ice Pack Days.
All Ice Pack Day work is due the next regular school day.
If school is closed and is not indicated as an Ice Pack Day, students are not required to complete Ice Pack Work.
If school is cancelled or closed for any reason, all extra-curricular activities are cancelled.
Professional and Service Employee Instructions for Emergency Closing or Delay of School
Out of calendar days must be used to recover instructional days if non-instructional days are not adequate. Note: June 20, 2024 is a school holiday, however, it cannot be used for recovery if the use caused the total number of holidays to exceed seven.
Employees with contracts in excess of 200 days but less than 240 days will work the same days as teachers for out of calendar days except in the event that these employees cannot fulfill their contracted days. At that point, employees in excess of 200 days but less than 240 days shall work out of calendar days to fulfill their contract.
Central Office employees with contracts in excess of 200 days but less than 250 days will work on days when school is cancelled due to inclement weather or other circumstances unless at such point they would be excess of their contract or as approved by their immediate supervisor.
All employees with a contract of 250 or more days will work as usual regardless if school is closed or delayed.
On days when there is a two-hour or three-hour delay, all students will observe the two-hour or three-hour delay. All employees will report to work one hour later for two-hour delays and two hours later for three-hour delays, unless otherwise directed by the Superintendent.
If a two-hour delay is called, 200-day employees who report at 6:30 am or earlier shall not report before 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on 3-hour delays. Per Policy 8220, the Superintendent reserves the right to assign work on a day on which school is closed, not to exceed their contracted days.