The announcement of school delays and closings will be emailed to parents through the School Messenger system, posted to the district’s website, mobile app (for iOS and Android), Facebook/Twitter pages, as well as reported on the following local radio and television stations on or before 7:00 am:

If possible, decisions to delay or close schools will be made no later than 5:15 am, to provide families adequate time to be notified and to seek and find daycare and alternative family plans, if needed.  Early notification also allows our transportation, maintenance and food service teams to prepare for necessary adjustments and modifications.

However, please be aware that while we may make the decision before 5:15 am, it will take time to update the radio, television and other communication channels, as well as for the media outlets to post this information.  We will work as quickly as possible, but please keep in mind that all local school districts, businesses, non-profit organizations, etc., are also contacting these media outlets during the same time period.

Once the information has been submitted, we are at the mercy of the radio and television stations as to when it is broadcast during their programs, posted on their websites or listed at the bottom of the television screen. Keep in mind that they, too, are dealing with an influx of web users also repeatedly hitting their websites for this information. A friendly reminder that if you do not see our information posted on one website or television station, to check the other stations – it might have been uploaded more quickly there.

When weather conditions develop during the day and the district decides to close the schools early, high school students will be dismissed first followed by middle school students and then elementary students.  Parents of elementary students should have an emergency plan prepared in case of an early dismissal.  We will post this information to all media outlets, as well as use School Messenger for phone calls to alert parents quickly.

We always keep the safety of our students and staff forefront in our decision-making, however sometimes, as we all know, the weather throws us a curveball.  As we head into the snowy part of winter, please remember to always check our website, and download the district’s mobile app to receive up-to-date information on closings and delays.

How are decisions made regarding weather-related school closings and delays?

The superintendent consults with our Transportation Coordinator and the Plant Manager who have assigned areas within the Township to drive and assess the road conditions. The superintendent also consults with superintendents from neighboring school district and sometimes the Manheim Township Police Department is contacted for information regarding traffic problems.  Student safety is the primary concern in deciding when to delay or cancel school. Dangerous wind chill factors, icy roads, accumulated snowfall, heavy fog, flooding and severe storm warnings are all reasons for delaying or canceling school. Loss of heat or water, fire damage and hazardous spills have caused specific buildings to close or be delayed.

Factors in Decisions:

1. Road conditions
2. Projected weather forecast
3. Risk-reward balance of bringing students to school or the possibility that they may be home alone because parents cannot take off work unexpectedly.
4. Timing of the weather.

We always keep the safety of our students and staff forefront in our decision-making, however sometimes, as we all know, the weather throws us a curveball.

Snow Make-Up Days

We will update the calendar of our website with snow make-up days and the tentative date of our last student day of school during unprecedented winter weather and if makeup days are needed.  Please be aware that our last student day could change due to unpredictable months of winter weather and school days off.

Thoughts as to why a 2-hour delay

There are several reasons for a 2-hour delay.  For our young drivers, it allows them to drive in the daylight and avoid rush hour traffic.  For our maintenance people, it gives them extra time to plow parking lots, clear sidewalks, and make sure each building’s heating system is working properly.  For all our students, it provides a safer commute in daylight, and gives extra time for roads and sidewalks to clear.  For our busing service, they may need additional time to dig out and clear the buses to begin their bus route.  For the state and local road crews, it allows extra time to clear the roads of snow and debris. And for the administration, it provides us time to make sure all of the above has happened and students have a safe environment. Sometimes the 2-hour delay also allows time to see if the weather forecast was correct as predicted, in which case, we then may make the call to close school.

Process of closing schools early

When weather conditions develop during the day and the district decides to close the schools early, high school students will be dismissed first followed by middle school students and then elementary students.  Parents of elementary students should have an emergency plan prepared in case of an early dismissal. The district will post on our website, Facebook/Twitter/Mobile App, send out a School Messenger email and phone call, and contact all media outlets if the decision is made to close early due to weather.

Remote Learning Day

A remote learning day is one of two options for a school day when instruction is delivered remotely while the school building is closed. A remote learning day consists of synchronous (live streamed) instruction (where teachers teach from home, and students learn from home) on inclement weather days. On a remote learning day, students and teachers will follow their regular school schedule and participate in synchronous and asynchronous instruction via Zoom, Schoology, SeeSaw, etc. Since a remote learning day is an approved instructional day, students will complete assigned work and submit it as communicated by their teachers. Teachers may communicate that the assignments are to be submitted electronically or in person upon the students return to school. The work completion is necessary to account for student attendance. 

Flexible Instructional Day (FID)

A Flexible Instructional Day (FID) is a school day where instruction is delivered remotely through online learning activities while the school building is closed.  A FID day counts as a school day.  In the event that the district plans to use a Flexible Instructional Day, the school district will communicate (at least 24 hours in advance) that a FID day may occur. Principals and teachers will communicate specific information regarding the FID day with their students and families.

In the event that a Flexible Instructional Day is called, here are the steps that will occur:

1. The school district will communicate (at least 24 hours in advance) that a FID day may occur. There are three possible outcomes resulting from the announcement of a potential FID day.
   • • Outcome 1 - Upon confirmation that a school closure is necessary, notification that we will institute a FID day will come via email, as soon as possible, in advance of the start of that school day.
     • Outcome 2 - It is possible that a day anticipated for use as a FID day will not be used as a FID day (for example, the actual-weather that we experienced did not necessitate a school cancellation).
     • Outcome 3 - It is possible that a delayed school start would be sufficient for safe travel to school that day, and the FID day would not be used.
2. Principals will communicate to families (via School Messenger) that a FID will be taking place.
3. Teachers will communicate with their students regarding the lessons they should complete during the FID using Schoology (5-12) or Seesaw (K-4).
4. Teachers will ensure that all students can access the task to be completed (for example: practice finding and downloading the assignment onto the student’s device before the students leave class prior to a FID).  Or, teachers may choose to send home printed materials for students who may need assistance accessing electronic lessons. 
5. Students will complete FID assignments on the day of the Flexible Instructional Day. Unlike a snow day, a FID is not “made up” later in the school year. Assigned FID work will be due the next school day. Work may be submitted to the teacher via Schoology, Seesaw, or in hard copy. The work completion is necessary to account for student attendance. If your student does not complete the FID assignments during the FID, then the day will be recorded as an absence. An excuse note will be necessary in order to excuse the absence.
6. As mentioned above, a FID is an instructional school day. This means:
   
   • • Teachers will be available during specified times of the school day (these times will be communicated by teachers) where they will be available to answer student questions should they arise.
     • Special Education teachers (LS, MDS, LSS, AS, ES, Speech, OT/PT), and EL teachers will deliver asynchronous instruction to students on these days.
     • K-6 Specialists (Art, Music, Phys. Ed., Library, STEM) will deliver asynchronous instruction to their students depending on the cycle day of the FID.
     • Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Tech Integrators will continue their work supporting students and teachers through virtual office hours, email, phone calls, or video conferencing during the FID.
     • School nurses will be available to provide TeleHealth support to students on a FID.