When Should I Cancel School?

Here in Kentucky, we thought we were in the clear and now, we’re facing more winter weather. Sometimes the decision to close school or go to non-traditional instruction (NTI) can be difficult to make. In today’s blog, I thought I’d just share with you what I consider when making the call to call of school, even if the timing on some winter storms can make that decision tough. You hate to inconvenience families and staff if nothing happens, but how can you know? Here are some things to consider:

1. Can the families and staff get there and back safely?

Safety is my first priority. If it’s even questionable that road conditions will diminish because of inclement weather, it’s better to be safe than sorry. As an administrator, I would hate for students to be in school, teachers staying with their students waiting for families as road conditions worsen, and families having to battle their way to the school. Sometimes it’s just better to cancel than question it. Timing of certain winter storms can make this difficult and parents get anxious wanting to know if school will be open as they will likely have to find child care. Take your time and make wise decisions. Some private schools just close with public schools. That’s fine, but be aware that public schools have different logistics to worry about such as bus transportation and increased extra curriculuar activities. As a private school, you likely don’t offer bus transportation (kudos if you are able to!) and parents are relied upon to transport their own children. As such, parents have ownership of whether or not they will brave questionable elements to bring their child to school. This can help make some decisions if main roads are in great shape, but side roads may be a little questionable. In these cases, public schools would likely stay closed while private schools could open.

2. Will road conditions improve later in the morning?

A lot of times, we see a dusting or just enough snow to make the morning commute rough, but an hour or two later as the sun does its thing and starts melting, we could safely make it to school. There were several instances that I would call for a delay versus closing or NTI because of this. The major roadblock: Can families transport their children to you later in the morning? Personally, I feel like it’s better than cancelling for an entire day if they have to come in slightly later to work and most employers will understand.

3. Should I close or do Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI)?

This depends on the demographics of your school. NTI work, from a parent’s perspective, can be daunting especially if you have younger or multiple children in the same household. If you’re choosing to do NTI, make sure the students have everything that they will absolutely need – supplies (including pencils!!), assignments, and it’s clearly communicated to parents. Don’t assume that parents have anything needed to complete NTI! Also, tools like Google Classroom and other learning sites are so helpful, but be aware of what technology children and parents have access to and be careful assuming parents will know what to do even if they get on the site you gave them. Remember, we’re professionals and we use these platforms often, but parents do not and just because it’s simple to us doesn’t mean it’ll be easy for them. Also, be cognizant that some children could be supervised by grandparents, who may not be as tech savvy as parents are. If you are going to opt against utilizing NTI days, make sure to allot time in your calendar if you live in an area where inclement weather is more likely.

Hopefully these quick suggestions help! If you’re in the path of another inclement weather event, I pray for wisdom and discernment as you navigate this and lead your schools. Stay safe, stay warm, and let’s hope spring is right around the corner!