PLEASE DO NOT CALL SCHOOLS, THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY, OR ADMINISTRATORS WITH CALLS OF INQUIRY -- THEIR PHONES ARE NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THESE INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES.
The following radio and TV stations broadcast school information:
| AM RADIO: | KVOR (740), KOA (850), KRDO (1240), KKML (1300), KCMN (1530) |
| FM RADIO: | KCME (88.7), KTLF (90.5), KRCC (91.5), KILO (94.3), KRDO (95.1), KKFM (98.1), KYGO (98.5), KKMG (98.9), KKCS (101.9), KYZX (103.9), KSKX (105.5) |
| TV: | KOAA (Ch 5/30), KKTV (Ch 11), KRDO (Ch 13), KCNC-TV (Ch 4 - Denver) and KUSA (Ch 9 - Denver) |
In addition, the latest District 38 information on weather-related school closings can be obtained by logging on to www.newsbridge.net/Lewis-Palmer (case sensitive!). There is also a link to that site on the District 38 home page, www.lewispalmer.org. School closings or delayed start decisions are posted at this site between 5:00-5:30 a.m. on days when weather is a factor in the operation of schools. These sites also display the latest information on evening activities when weather conditions worsen during the course of a day.
I. BEFORE SCHOOL IS CANCELLED FOR THE DAY, DISTRICT 38 WILL:
...make inclement weather decisions based on student, parent, and staff safety.
...collect data at the earliest appropriate time. Administrators will check with the National Weather Service, El Paso County Department of Transportation, area law enforcement agencies, and area school districts. Several personnel will drive selected District roads.
II. IN THE EVENT SCHOOL IS CANCELLED FOR THE DAY, DISTRICT 38 WILL:
...make the decision as soon as possible as to whether schools will be open and to announce closures by calling approximately 14 radio stations and four television stations.
...cancel all field trips, after-school and evening activities, sports, meetings, in all buildings.
PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO:
...make arrangements for the care of their children in the event school is cancelled.
...listen to the news broadcasts on stormy mornings.
III. IN THE EVENT A WEATHER-RELATED DELAYED START OCCURS, DISTRICT 38 WILL:
...make the decision as soon as possible to delay the start of each school by two hours if it appears that the weather will be improving and announce that decision via radio and television.
...make a delayed start decision based on student, parent, and staff safety.
...cancel morning kindergarten classes and morning preschool programs.
...begin bus pick-up times two hours later than normal; and
...make a decision by 7:45am to cancel the delayed start and close school for the entire day if weather or road conditions do not improve. This change will be announced on radio and TV.
PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO:
...arrange for the care of their children until the late bus arrives.
...listen to the news broadcasts on stormy mornings.
...decide whether or not to send students to school on threatening, stormy days.
...send children to school at the delayed start time rather than the normal time.
IV. IN THE EVENT OF A WEATHER-RELATED EARLY DISMISSAL, DISTRICT 38 WILL:
...notify radio and TV stations if a decision is made to dismiss classes early due to inclement weather. Dismissal times will be announced over radio and TV stations.
...cancel afternoon kindergarten classes and afternoon preschool programs.
...transport eligible students home on buses.
PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO:
...listen for an early dismissal announcement on radio or TV.
...make sure students know in advance what to do and where to go if dismissed early. (Do not rely on making last-minute arrangements for students.)
V. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL NOT PENALIZE STUDENTS if parents keep them home on questionable storm days IF PARENTS REPORT their children’s absence to their schools.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE GEOGRAPHIC NATURE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT VARIES GREATLY AND WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT EXIST IN ONE PORTION OF THE DISTRICT MAY NOT EXIST AT OTHER LOCATIONS. IF DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS EXIST, NO MATTER THE LOCATION, DISTRICT SCHOOL OPERATIONS MAY BE DELAYED OR SUSPENDED.
IN ADDITION, INCLEMENT WEATHER WILL CAUSE BUS ROUTE TIMES TO BE EXTENDED AND BUSES MAY RUN LATE. YOUR COOPERATION IN MEETING ADJUSTED TIMES WILL BE APPRECIATED
