Cancelling school because of snow or ice is rare. Here is the process we used to monitor conditions during winter weather and notify families should school need to be canceled. 

Early morning timeline

• 3:30 a.m. District staff observe weather
• 4:00 a.m. District staff drive selected roads to evaluate their conditions
• 4:30 a.m. District staff collect and monitor information concerning city and county roads as it becomes available
• 5:00 a.m. Recommendation is made to Superintendent/designee based on available data and decision made to open or cancel school 
• No later than 5:30 a.m., the district will notify parents and students through text and email and post on social media and website and notify local media   

Deteriorating conditions during the school day

• If weather deteriorates after school has begun there will be NO closure of school.
• In the event weather conditions deteriorate rapidly during morning transportation hours or during school, buses will continue their routes unless ordered to park by transportation or public safety officials. The reason for this is that students may be safely sheltered at school.
• Elementary and middle school students will be sheltered at school until they can be taken home by parents or by school bus. Parents may be notified to pick up their children early.
• High school students will be released to drive home if the school receives parental permission.
• Bus routes for the afternoon may be canceled if all students have been picked up by parents or upon order of public safety officials or the Superintendent/designee. If students remain at school and buses cannot run, they will be sheltered until transported by parents, law enforcement, or security officials.
• Between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. a blizzard warning will result in an after school activity cancellation.  
• Between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. a winter storm warning, with snow forecast of 5+ inches along with a forecast of blowing and drifting snow will result in an after school activity cancellation. If the conditions are particularly icy the same cancellations may happen. Field trips may be canceled.
• By 1:30 p.m. the decision to cancel activity buses will be made. When activity buses are canceled because of severe weather conditions, ALL activities are canceled, including meetings, conferences, sporting events, practices/rehearsals, performances, etc.
• Other activities, such as marching band practice, will also be canceled.
• In the event of school being canceled due to severe weather conditions, District and State games, matches, and competitions could still be played.  Those discussions and decisions would need to be decided by District III Superintendents. Coaches will keep athletes and parents informed.