Weather, Emergencies, and School Closures
Snow and inclement weather (smoke, snow, freezing rain, wind, extreme temperatures, etc) can create confusion for all of us when it affects the school schedule. As emergency weather days often come at the last minute, it is important to be prepared for school delays and closures.
Please keep in mind that while you may not agree with our weather-related closures, our district services students across more than 400 square miles! This means weather and road conditions may vary significantly across our district. Additionally, our transportation staff begin the process of determining road safety as early as 3am! Many staff members begin traveling to work early in the morning, so a decision to delay or close school operations is determined by 4:30am.
We do not take school closures lightly and understand the impact closure has on 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 5:30am. Closures and delays will be broadcast on the district website homepage, Facebook, radio, and television news stations no later than 6am.
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 school is open, please be sure to make an attendance call to their school. Policy and Procedure 2221 can be found here: mlsd161.org/apps/pages/boardpolicies
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.). CB Tech students will have a remote learning day on Google Classroom. Any closures will result in a school make up day at the end of the year.
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.
Early Closures
Because of the possibility of children coming home to locked houses, we will make every effort not to close schools early. However, under severe emergency conditions, we may need to proceed with early closure. Early closure will be announced on local radio stations and our phone messaging system.
For the most up to date information, visit the following links:
Or you can call 509 793-7200 for a recorded message.
Updated 1.9.24
Current Weather
The following link goes to the webpage monitoring our solar array on top of CB Tech.