Weather / Snow Emergencies

School Closure Line: 279-5060
Check These Websites: www.ohsd.net or www.schoolreport.org
E-mail Notification: Sign up at www.schoolreport.org

Bus routes are sometimes run on a limited basis due to weather. Be sure to know your snow routes.

How do you decide on school closures, anyway?
Making an informed decision requires a team effort. Starting at about 3:30 am, four people from the school district roll out of bed and get into their cars. Each of them spends the next hour driving over designated routes to test road conditions in each quadrant of the district. By 5 am they get together, along with Superintendent Rick Schulte, to compare notes. They also check weather forecasts and radar images showing snow patterns in the northern Puget Sound region. The goal is to make a decision no later than 5:15 am.

By 5:30 am, the information should be posted on the district website as well as the statewide system, known as schoolreport.org. Once posted on the schoolreport.org website, the information is automatically sent to television, radio, and newspaper outlets, as well as emergency services. E-mail notification is also sent out to all parents who signed up at www.schoolreport.org (it's free.)

Once buses roll in the morning, school will not be canceled
Due to safety concerns, students will not be sent home early when weather emergencies develop during the school day. Students must have a warm and safe way to get home, as well as a warm and safe home to go to. When students are sent home early, the family routine is broken and we cannot be sure the student will be safe at home. Therefore, the best alternative is to keep schools open.

Parents: It's always your call when it comes to the safety of your children
Regardless of whether school is open, no one will second-guess the decision of parents to keep their children home or pick them up at school early due to weather. Snow or ice conditions can vary greatly on the island. Transportation issues vary from family to family. Parents need to make decisions based on their individual needs and concerns.


EMERGENCY PLANS: Each family should have a plan covering what to do when children arrive home early due to an emergency situation. Where would your child go if he/she needed help? Who would care for your child until you arrive? Is there someone your child could call to allay fears?

MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENTS: Listen to one of the radio station listed below between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM if you feel the weather may create hazardous traveling conditions. Emergency messages and closures will also be posted on the Internet at www.schoolreport.org. Our goal is to notify stations by 5:30 am; 11:00 am for an early emergency dismissal. Radio stations will be announcing schedule changes by district name and number. Please do not call the radio/television stations, transportation office, or the schools. Jammed telephone lines only compound emergencies. Emergency school closure or schedule change information can be accessed by calling 279-5060.

NO ANNOUNCEMENT MEANS NORMAL OPERATIONS

FM STATIONS
KAFE 104.3
KCMS 105.3
KBRC 1430
KIRO 97.3
KMPS 94.1
KMTT 103.7
KPLU 88.5
KRWM 106.9
KSER 90.7
KVTI 90.9

AM STATIONS
KAPS 660
KCIS 630
KIXI 880
KOMO 1000
KRKO 1380
KWDB 1110
KYCW 1090

*Key PSECS Station