Emergency Closure Procedure

Last Updated 2/5/2007

Provision has been made in state attendance regulations for two kinds of emergency closures:

1. Emergency closure due to facility failure;

2. Emergency closure due to weather.

In the case of emergency closure due to facility failure, advance notice will be given whenever possible using the media outlets listed on the next page. If such a failure occurs during the school day requiring school closure before the end of the regular day, appropriate media outlets will be notified as soon as possible so parents will be able to respond accordingly.

In the case of emergency closure due to weather, the following should be carefully noted:

1. Parents should make advance arrangements for their children to cover two eventualities:

a. School being canceled before the school day begins because of existing weather conditions;
b. School being canceled at some point during the school day because of worsening weather conditions.

2. At no point will the school administration attempt to substitute their own safety judgements for those of the parents. There may be times when, in the best judgement of the administration, school for the great majority of students is possible. With this determination, buses will run their regularly assigned routes. Nonetheless, if any parents determine to the contrary for their own children and choose not to send their children to school, the school should be notified so the absence can be recorded appropriately.

3. If school is not officially canceled, all buses will run all regular routes. Conditions in some parts of the school district may cause delays, however. If a bus is running substantially late, please do not call the district office or the school. Late buses will stop at all regular stops. Have students watch for the bus from a safe, comfortable place and proceed to the stop as soon as the bus comes into view.

4. All buses are radio equipped and are in constant contact with the central office. School transportation officials work closely with county road personnel whenever there is a question about road conditions or transportation safety issues.

The following weather conditions could result in the canceling of school:

1. Cold greater than 20 degrees below zero, as determined at several points in the district.

2. Blowing or drifting snow that could prevent buses from successfully completing the normal pick-up or delivery of students or increase the likelihood that a bus might become stranded. .

An early morning cancellation will be announced as early as possible with a target time of no later than 6:30 a.m. The prevailing weather conditions may make a cancellation announcement later than 6:30 a.m. possible. We solicit the understanding and patience of our patrons under such circumstances.

Cancellation of school will be communicated through the following media outlets by 6 a.m. If no announcement is made through these outlets, school is officially in session for the day and buses will run. We encourage our patrons to rely on one of these media outlets for their emergency closure information and that they not find it necessary to call the district office or the schools direct.

Television Outlets: KIDK TV, Channel 3; KIFI TV, Channel 8; KPVI, Channel 6.

Local Radio Stations: KBYI FM Radio, Rexburg; KRXK FM Radio, Rexburg

Idaho Falls Radio Stations: KID AM Radio; KOSY FM Radio; KLCE FM Radio;
KZBQ FM Radio; KUPI FM Radio; KFTZ FM Radio.

Emergency Child Care
Please have a pre-arranged plan for your children to follow in the event that school is dismissed early for some reason. It is not feasible to have them try to call you from school for instructions because of the considerable delay that would be encountered. We would suggest that you ask your children to call you as soon as they reach home (or wherever you tell them to go) and that you have a plan for siblings to meet at a certain location so that they can all go to the designated place together.

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