School Closings & Delays

Inclement Weather Closings & Delays

Our school calendar has three (3) days built into the required state clock hours for potential closures. The school board has decided to have the next three days that school is canceled to be made up in person on the in-services days with any additional days being virtual learning days on the day of closure. 

On days we are aware of or anticipate inclement weather, district transportation personnel will be assessing the situation in all areas of our school district beginning around 4:45 a.m. Which includes inspecting roads, speaking with Department of Transportation personnel, and, at times, I will drive the roads myself to get a better feel for the conditions.

In most circumstances, the decision to close or delay will be made by 5:30 a.m., and a notice sent to the following locations:

Decisions to delay are typically made for one of two reasons. (1) when the weather bureau has indicated that the conditions present between 6:45 - 8:00 AM will be temporary and improving weather is expected. (2) the weather bureau has expressed uncertainty and I feel we may need more time to decide whether the school should be closed.

There are a few more points that I would like to make. Our school buses are very safe for children, they are heavy, well-maintained, and driven by well-trained and qualified individuals here at Cochrane-Fountain City. In inclement weather conditions, students are much safer in buses than in cars. Additionally, the snow itself rarely closes school. The fact that there is a snowstorm approaching shouldn't be overly concerning. Visibility, road conditions, ice build-up, and the status of plowing are more important issues to consider.

The district understands that many families need to make alternate arrangements for their children when school is delayed, canceled, or dismissed early. These are stressful times for many parents. The whereabouts and safety concerns of children are paramount for parents and educators. The best advice I can give is to work on developing a network of support that can react and adjust to changing conditions when the weather becomes a problem. I want to reiterate that parents are the final authority as to whether or not they believe it is safe for their child to go to school. If you feel it is too cold, the snow is too deep, or the weather is too unsettled, your decision may be to keep your child home.

Sincerely,

Troy White,
Superintendent Cochrane-Fountain City School District