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Alert

This is a reminder that there is regularly scheduled meeting of the school board Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 6pm. The meeting will be held in the boardroom located at 940 E. Yonezawa Blvd. Visit www.mlsd161.org/sbmeetings for more information about the meeting and public comment.

District
  1. Departments
  2. Transportation
  3. Weather, Emergencies, and School Closures

Weather, Emergencies, and School Closures

WEATHER

Snow and inclement weather (smoke, snow, freezing rain, wind, extreme temperatures, etc.) can confuse us all when they affect the school schedule. Emergency weather days often come at the last minute, so it is important to prepare for school delays and closures.

While you may disagree with our weather-related closures, our district services students across more than 400 square miles, meaning weather and road conditions may vary significantly. Additionally, our transportation staff determine road safety as early as 3 a.m.! Many staff members begin traveling to work early in the morning, so a decision to delay or close school operations is determined by 4:30 am.

We do not take school closures lightly and understand how closure impacts many families in our community. However, the safety of all our students and staff remains our priority.

The automated phone system will deliver robocalls, texts (if opted in), and emails notifying families of school closures by 5:30 a.m. Closures and delays will be broadcast on the district website homepage, Facebook, radio, and television news stations no later than 6 a.m.

Any 'snow days' will result in make-up days at the end of the school year. 

Parents are always the decision-makers for their children. If the weather conditions are such that you feel your child should not attend school, but the school is open, please make an attendance call to the school. Policy and Procedure 2221 can be found here: Board Policies.


Call 509 793-7200 for a recorded message.

 

When bad weather occurs...
  • Listen to local radio or TV stations, check district websites, and follow social media channels for potential closures or delays.
  • Dress your children warmly: coats, hats, boots, etc are strongly encouraged.
  • Ensure child-care and student drop-off/pick-up arrangements are in place.

 

 

 

 Local Radio Stations
  • KBSN AM 1470
  • KDRM FM 99.3
  • KULE AM 730
  • KULE FM 95.9
  • KWIQ AM 1020
  • KWIQ FM 100.3
  • KWWW FM 96.7
  • KZML 95.9 FM Spanish
  • LWLN 103.3 FM Spanish
  • KRCW 96.3 Spanish
  • KPQ 560AM

 

 

Find Your School

Closures

School buildings, facilities, and transportation may be closed due to inclement or extreme weather (poor air quality, freezing rain, snow, freezing temperatures, wind chills, etc.). CBTECH students will have a remote learning day on Google Classroom. Any closures will result in a school makeup day at the end of the year.

 

Early Closures

Because children may come home to locked houses, we will make every effort not to close schools early. However, we may need to proceed with an early school closure under severe emergency conditions. Early closure will be announced on local radio stations and our phone messaging system.

Late Start

On marginal days when it appears the weather will break, schools may start up to two hours later than normal. This allows road crews to catch up, temperatures to rise, and buses to run in daylight. If conditions do not improve, running late may be changed to closure.*

Late start days are considered full school days and are not required to be made up. Here is what you can expect: 

  • There is no morning preschool
  • Elementary schools will begin at 11 AM
  • Middle schools will begin at 10 AM
  • Vanguard and MLHS will begin at 10 AM
  • CBTECH session #1 is canceled
  • Bus routes will run 2 hours later than their normal pick-up time
  • Breakfast will not be served.

 

*While regular late starts already occur on Mondays, the District may issue a weather-related Late Start. Inclement weather late starts on Mondays will follow the procedure above. Click here for Employee Late Start information.