Inclement Weather

Fuquay-Varina Middle School Inclement Weather Protocols

(downloadable/printable document attached at bottom of this page)

School Closures

If school is closed because of inclement weather, then that means school is closed for STUDENTS and not teachers. The day then becomes a teacher workday.

Depending on road conditions, we will try to open the building as soon as possible.

Do not attempt to come to work until you know that the building is open and you can access the parking lots.

Delay of Operational Hours

If school is delayed for students, it is delayed for teachers as well. Teachers are expected to report no later than 7:45 am on regular school days.

-If school is delayed by one hour, teachers are expected to report no later than 8:45 am.

-If school is delayed by two hours, teachers are expected to report no later than 9:45 am.

Exercise caution in reporting to work. Call your administrator should you have an emergency.

Information about Closures and Delays

If school is closed or delayed, the following will occur:

School Administration will send out an email informing you of delay or closure for students and the status of the building.

School Administration will send out a phone messenger notification to the staff indicating this information as well, in the event that you are unable to utilize internet.

Request for Leave

-Personal Day or Vacation Day (send an email to your respective administrator).

-Opportunities to Make up Time (only for extreme circumstances - must communicate with administrator by the next working day).

WCPSS Employee Handbook:

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Procedures for Adjusting Schedules Each year there is the possibility of weather conditions creating unsafe traffic conditions. When such conditions exist, the schools may be:

1. Closed for one or more days,

2. Opened later than the normal beginning time, or

3. Dismissed earlier than the normal closing time.

Decisions on adjusting schedules are usually made after consulting the weather service, traffic agencies, and others. Roads, streets, and highways in various areas of the school district are checked in addition to the above sources of information. In some situations action must be based on forecasts by meteorologists. Persons interested in observing the decision making process should be at the transportation office on Rock Quarry Road by 4:30 a.m.

If it becomes necessary to close schools for the day or begin later than the normal opening time, major news media in the area will be notified early enough to carry the news no later than 6 a.m. Principals will also be notified of the decision through voice mail. Drastically changing weather may change the decision at a later time in the day.

The days schools are closed as a result of inclement weather are rescheduled by the Board of Education. With reference to teachers, school days which are lost due to inclement weather may be declared teacher vacation days, holidays, or workdays. The teachers’ calendar may be adjusted by the Board in a manner not to exceed the annual employment period. The teachers’ calendar will have to be adjusted as or after work is missed. The adjustments will be announced by the Superintendent’s office.

There are several procedures at the individual school level which must be observed.

1. An early morning notice will be received through news media and voice mail. Adjustments which are announced during the school day will be called to the schools through the internal communication network.

2. Early dismissals and late openings will be announced in terms of regular dismissal and opening time. For example, “schools will open one hour later than normally scheduled” will be used instead of saying “schools will open at 9 a.m.” This method of stating adjustments is meant to avoid confusion for staff and community.

3. It is advisable to make every effort to keep walks and outside steps around the schools cleared of ice and snow on every school day. Each principal should make sure the school possesses the proper hand tools and supplies to accomplish this goal. In some cases, areas that have not been cleared should be declared “off limits” and “policed” as such.

4. It is very important that buses be allowed to depart the campus of each school promptly on early dismissal days. Access to and from bus parking and loading areas should be kept clear of congestion and other vehicular traffic until buses have departed.

5. The following adjustments will be implemented for all student activities and athletic games and/or practices:

 When school is closed for the day or dismissed early due to inclement weather all student extracurricular activities and athletic games and/or practices for the day shall be canceled.

 Athletic games canceled due to inclement weather will be rescheduled according to North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) rules.

 On Saturdays when inclement weather conditions exist, the determination of whether to play scheduled games or to practice will be made by the Superintendent.

 On days when school opens later than normal, student extra-curricular activities, athletic games and/or practices may be canceled, held as normally scheduled, or alternatively scheduled depending on local weather conditions and other pertinent factors. A delayed opening does not automatically cancel an event. The principal and other local school personnel who are normally involved in scheduling these events shall work out the schedules for days affected by delayed openings.

6. Community schools, which operate during the evening hours, will be considered on a separate schedule. Any change in their schedules will be announced separately from the regular school notice.

7. If school is delayed one hour or more, breakfast may be served, but the final decision is the responsibility of the principal. Prior to an abbreviated school day, the principal will alert parents through local school communications that breakfast may or may not be served. On days of early dismissal, lunch may be served, but the final decision is the responsibility of the principal.

8. The following adjustments will be followed for the Before-School and After-School programs:

 The Before-School Program regular start time will be delayed for the same time that the opening of school is delayed. For example, if school is delayed for one hour, then the Before-School Program start time will be delayed for one hour.

 The early dismissal of school will activate the After-School Program, which will start at the time of school dismissal until the regular closing time. The exception to this procedure will be based on the severity of weather conditions that necessitate the general closing of the business community.

 If schools are closed for the day, the Before-School Program and After-School Program will not operate.