How do schools decide whether or not to close or just have a delayed opening?

[Anonymous]

Our head of school had decided at around 6am that school would open two hours later than normal. Then at 7:45am, she changed her mind and decided to close the school because of the weather and road conditions.

What was cause a head of school to make this decision. It was raining today so as far as I am concerned, school should have started on time.

So my question is, does anyone have an idea what criteria a school would use in order to decide whether or not to close the school or to have a delayed start?

[Anonymous]

Our private follows the lead of the jurisdiction where it is located, probably because it would be hard for the head to have a sense of what the roads and sidewalks are like farther away from wherever he lives.

[Anonymous]

A lot of the privates just follow the county.

This lady sounds like she's trying to keep everyone happy but isn't as informed as she needs to be, maybe?

[Anonymous]

The school heads that are making independent decisions are factoring in current and expected weather conditions, what the roads conditions are like for parents and teachers, what other schools are doing (a number of the independent school heads have regular conference calls to get a sense of what others are thinking of doing), and what information is being put out by state and local authorities about road conditions. If the school provides transportation, whether or not the bus/van can safely operate is also a factor. Generally, schools want to be open, so they're looking at whether or not that's a safe option, even if it is with a delay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school heads that are making independent decisions are factoring in current and expected weather conditions, what the roads conditions are like for parents and teachers, what other schools are doing (a number of the independent school heads have regular conference calls to get a sense of what others are thinking of doing), and what information is being put out by state and local authorities about road conditions. If the school provides transportation, whether or not the bus/van can safely operate is also a factor. Generally, schools want to be open, so they're looking at whether or not that's a safe option, even if it is with a delay.

So basically, the screamingly obvious.

[Anonymous]

Not so obvious as some schools were closed today and the roads weren't bad at all.

[Anonymous]

Some schools follow the jurisdiction they are in.

Other schools have an unofficial consortium of heads that make the decision jointly. Sidwell, GDS, the Cathedral schools all seem to be part of that group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not so obvious as some schools were closed today and the roads weren't bad at all.

Your school has a written policy somewhere that tells you how they decide. Find it or ask for it.

[Anonymous]

I would say it is not taken lightly- the decision that is- and a lot of lead time has lead up to it. our head of school mentioned once phone calls at 430am with other county, indep schools, transportation people out on the roads trying to make their best prediction on what is safe for kids to be riding/driving to school in.

[DonaldTrump]

School boards actually make the decision based on the number of kids that get injured as a result of the inclement weather.

[Anonymous]

This is how fairfax county does it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHvcdK7YET0