Winter Weather Schedule Information and Announcements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Winter Weather Schedule Information and Announcements

 Haywood County, North Carolina – November 30, 2017

Haywood County Schools has closed an average of eight days during the last ten years because of inclement weather. Inclement weather during winter months often creates hazardous travel conditions in the form of icy roads, snow covered roads and even patches of frozen fog on roadways. Hazardous travel conditions may require altering school operating schedules, altering bus routes or closing schools. Schools will be closed when fifteen percent (15%) of the bus routes have to be altered due to weather conditions. Schools will also be closed if weather conditions prevent all of the buses from running their regular routes at an individual school.

When weather conditions cause a change in school schedules, local media are notified by 5:45 a.m. each morning so the change may be announced as soon as reasonably possible. The school system will continue to use a rapid notification system for parents and staff. Parents are encouraged to contact their local school for voice, texting and email messaging.

Weather related announcements are posted on the school district website at www.haywood.k12.nc.us. Interested individuals can also call 456-2441 (extension 2177) to hear a recorded message. One of five announcements will be made.

1. School Closed – Optional Workday – Schools will be closed for students. However, faculty and staff have the option of reporting to work or taking accumulated annual leave day.

2. School Closed – Annual Leave Day – Schools will be closed for students. Ten month employees will have an annual leave day deducted from their leave allotment and should not report to work. Eleven and twelve month employees may use accumulated annual leave or report to work.

3. Closed (or No Day) – Schools will be closed for students and all staff. Staff may only work with the prior approval of the Superintendent, Associate Superintendent or Principal. This day may be used for several reasons: (1) when weather causes school to be closed on Monday. Tuesday or Wednesday and the make-up day is scheduled for Saturday (2) when annual leave days and workdays have been exhausted or are nearly exhausted (3) when travel conditions are extremely dangerous and there is a significant risk of injury if employees attempt to report to work.

4. Two-Hour Delay – Buses will operate two hours later than their regular schedule for morning bus runs. Buses will not run on icy roads. In the afternoon, buses will operate their normal time and route schedule to the extent roads can be safely traveled. Parents are encouraged to meet school buses at a point on the route where road conditions do not allow a bus to travel. When there is a two-hour delay, school buildings will be opened on the normal operating schedule so working parents may take children to school. Students arriving early should report to their first class or the school’s designated area. Regular class schedules will begin two hours later than the normal schedule. Faculty and staff should report to work on the normal schedule. Students who cannot meet buses at safe turn-around locations will be allowed an excused absence and will be required to make-up work in accordance with policy.

5. Three-Hour Delay – Buses will operate three hours later than their regular schedule for morning bus runs. Buses will not run on icy roads. In the afternoon, buses will operate their normal time and route schedule to the extent roads can be safely traveled. Parents are encouraged to meet school buses at a point on the route where road conditions do not allow a bus to travel. When there is a three-hour delay, school buildings will be opened on the normal operating schedule so working parents may take children to school. Students arriving early should report to their first class or the school’s designated area. Regular class schedules will begin three hours later than the normal schedule. Faculty and staff should report to work on the normal schedule. Students who cannot meet buses at safe turn-around locations will be allowed an excused absence and will be required to make-up work in accordance with policy.

Many people think delay schedules are designed to allow roadways to melt. While warming can be beneficial, many buses begin their routes before temperatures begin to rise. Delay schedules improve travel safety by allowing drivers to better see road conditions. Delay schedules also provide time for the Department of Transportation to work on road trouble spots. Delays are also used in some instances to determine if early morning winter storms develop as forecasted.

Dr. Anne Garrett, Superintendent said, “The overriding factor in making weather related decisions is the safety of our students and staff. Since weather can change quickly in our mountains, we will make most decisions in the early morning hours. That allows us to consider the most current weather and road conditions.”

Todd Trantham, Director of Transportation said, “Predicting road conditions and making decisions about school schedules is not a perfect science.  We do our best to anticipate these conditions by collecting data from neighboring counties, using firsthand information from staff checking roads and observing forecast models. When making decisions about school schedules, we focus on road conditions rather than forecasts.”

Dr. Bill Nolte, Associate Superintendent said, “Our primary safety concern is on the condition of roads across the entire school system.  If we have reason to believe road conditions may change overnight, we may delay the decision until our early morning road checks.  This reduces the possibility of different announcements being made in a short period of time.”

Inclement Weather Make-Up Plan

1. The first two make up days will be taken from June 5 – 6.

2. The following are other make up days in the plan:

• June 7 – 11

• March 19

• June 12 – 15

• May 28

• April (Spring Break) 9 – 13

The superintendent has the flexibility to change the weather plan and call a NO day at any time due to weather.

The days during the week of June 11 – 15 may be used to make – up days missed due to inclement weather.  The week of April 9 – 13 (Spring Break) may be used to make – up missed days due to inclement weather when the days listed above are exhausted.  Families and employees should always be cautious about scheduling activities during the weeks of June and April (Spring Break).  Saturday School may become an option when other viable options are exhausted.

Haywood County Schools

1230 North Main Street

Waynesville, NC 28786

www.haywood.k12.nc.us

Contact:  Dr. Bill Nolte, Associate Superintendent