Be Prepared for Snow Days & Inclement Weather

Be Prepared for Snow Days & Inclement Weather

In preparation for our “winter weather” months, we want to take time to share the Monroe School District‘s Winter Weather Procedures for school closures, delays, and early dismissals.

Our top priority is always the safety of staff, students, and visitors when making decisions. We recognize that canceled school days disrupt family schedules and that the school year may have to be extended. The decision to close schools is not an easy one and many factors are taken into consideration when making such a decision.

It is important to understand that the road conditions of our entire district are taken into account when a delay or closure decision is made. The roads in one part of our district may be clear while other areas are struggling with snow and/or ice. Decisions to delay the start of school or close school are made for the entire district; we will not close some schools in the district while leaving other schools open.

How the decision to delay or close schools is made

To help make the best possible decision, weather forecasts are consistently monitored and district staff drive our bus routes to evaluate road and parking lot conditions. We make every effort to make decisions regarding closings or delays in the evening, understanding that parents need time to make arrangements. However, if the forecast is uncertain and still developing, we wait to get the latest forecast and assess actual road conditions early in the morning. We try our best to announce morning decisions by 5 a.m. Additionally, if a delayed opening has been announced the night before, and the forecast or conditions worsen overnight, we may need to update the status in the morning and announce that all schools will be closed for the day.

Depending on the winter weather conditions, one of the following options is decided:

  • Schools start on time (no messages will be shared)

  • Schools start two hours late (no a.m. preschool, no out-of-district transportation)

  • Schools are closed (When schools are closed, all after school activities and evening facility use are also canceled.)

In addition, it may be determined that buses will need to operate on limited routes due to road conditions in outlying areas of the district. If this is the case, we will notify families that buses will be running on snow routes. Snow route stop locations and times can be found here. Please note that the stops listed are the ONLY stops buses will make when they are on snow routes.
 

If schools are delayed or closed, information will be shared through the following communication channels:

  • Email and text or robocall: An email and text or automated phone call will go out to all families. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Family Access to ensure you receive these notifications. Families who have ‘unsubscribed’ from district emails and/or automated calls will not receive these notifications.
     

  • District website: A message will be posted to the front page of our district website
     

  • Social media: Messages will be posted to the district FacebookTwitter, and Instagram pages.
     

  • School schedule hotline: 360-804-2950

In order to receive notifications about changes to school schedules or cancellations, it is important to ensure your contact information is up-to-date at your child’s school. If your information has changed, please let the main office at your child’s school know.

We will not send or post messages if schedules are normal. No news means that schools are open.

If other area school districts and colleges are closed, this may impact the schedules of our Sno-Isle and Running Start students. Students in these programs will need to contact those schools directly to find out about closures or delays.


If you have questions, please contact the district administration office at 360-804-2500.