With the arrival of the winter months, we want to share the Monroe School District‘s procedures for weather-related 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 as a result. The decision to close schools is never 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 due to weather conditions 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 for the following school day, understanding that parents need time to make arrangements for any schedule changes. 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. Morning decisions will be announced 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 four options is decided:

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

• Schools start on time with limited bus service (buses on snow routes)

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

• Schools are closed (no out-of-district transportation, no after school activities and no evening facility use)

If schools are delayed or closed, information will be shared the following ways:

• Email and text message OR robocall: An email will go out to all families through ParentSquare. A text message will also be sent IF you have listed your cell phone as your primary contact. If the text message fails to be delivered then you will receive a robocall. If you receive a text message, you will not receive a phone call.
  *Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Skyward/Family Access to ensure you receive these notifications. Families who have ‘unsubscribed’ from district emails, texts, or phone 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 Facebook and Instagram pages.

• School schedule hotline: 360-804-2950

• Local news channels: Any changes to regular school schedules or bus routes are sent to all local media channels through Flash Alert.

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 and on-time.

If other area school districts and colleges are closed, this may impact the schedules of our Sno-Isle, ORCA, ROTC, and Running Start students. Please check with these schools/ programs to learn if there are delays or closures that may impact your student.

Bus snow route locations & times are posted on the district website, here.

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