As we transition to autumn, it is time to prepare for colder temperatures and the possibility of late starts and school cancellations due to inclement weather. Below is an overview of the process we follow when responding to inclement weather scenarios.
Safety is #1
While education is our mission, safety is our top priority. Our Transportation provider evaluates road conditions early in the mornings and we make decisions that we think keep our students and staff safe.
Communication
Weather-related late starts and closure decisions are typically made with just a few hours notice. We will do our best to notify parents of any schedule changes as early as possible. Ideally, families can expect to be notified by 6:15 am via a School Messenger text, email, and phone call. We will send out follow-up communications if we switch from a late start to a closure. Please take this opportunity to update your contact information in Skyward Family Access if it has changed in the past year.
The HSD will also post snow route/late start/closure announcements on the alert bar on the HSD website and notify local media.
Two-Hour Late Start
If weather conditions necessitate a late start, all three HSD schools will follow a late start schedule and bus pick ups will follow accordingly. For example, with a two-hour late start, students should expect to be picked up 2 hours later than normal.
School Closure
Should it be necessary to close school due to unsafe weather conditions, there will be no school for all HSD students. This nearly always means that all sports practices and evening events are also canceled. School closures also result in make-up days. Our district’s designated snow make-up day is Friday, March 17 (2022-23 School Calendar here.) Additional closures would be added to that end of the school year unless an alternate decision is made by the School Board.
While the HSD has developed plans for school operations in the event of inclement weather conditions, things do not always go according to plan. Please understand that on these mornings there is a lot of coordination going on behind the scenes and we will do our absolute best to keep students, families, and staff safe and current with updated information.