Red Clay Consolidated School District

Transportation Office

To: Building Administrators

School Bus Contractors

FROM:              George Middleton

RE:                   Snow Emergency Procedures 2008-2009

DATE:               October 10, 2008

DELAYED OPENINGS/CANCELLATION

In the event that it is necessary to either delay school opening or cancel school for the day, Red Clay officials will send a telephone message to all parents and staff regarding the closing, as well as contacting the following radio and television stations:

WDEL 1150, WILM 1450, WJBR 99FM, WNRK 1260, WJBR 1290, WXCY 103.7FM and WRDX 94.7FM, and use automated television systems provided by NBC (Channel 10), ABC (Channel 6) and FOX 29.*

The district also uses the Delaware Department of Education school closings website located at http://schoolclosings.delaware.gov (no www in address is necessary) and updates its own website, located at www.redclay.k12.de.us.

*Please be advised that television stations provide limited information. The most detail is available on radio stations and the websites listed above.

When evening or night snow emergency warnings are issued, I and other transportation supervisors will survey road conditions throughout northern New Castle County between 2:00 A.M. and 5:00 A.M., and I will call the Superintendent no later than 5:00 A.M. with one of the following recommendations:

·         Delay start one (1) hour (no morning pre-kindergarten) –day ends regular time, staff reports at regular time.

·         Delay start two (2) hours (no morning pre-kindergarten) – day ends regular time, staff reports at regular time.

·         Cancel all classes (schools closed, offices opened) – students and 10-month employees do not report. All after-school and evening activities are cancelled. All other staff members are to report at the regular time.

·         Cancel all classes (schools and offices closed) – all District operations are cancelled, only emergency personnel are to report.

If the Superintendent announces a delay or cancellation of school:

·         The Public Information Officer, contacts radio and television before 5:30 A.M.

·         Administration will initiate the administrative telephone tree.

Before 5:30 A.M., Transportation will contact school bus contractors with scheduled changes.

Bad Weather Bus Stops

During inclement weather there are occasions when some district roads are too hazardous for buses to travel to their regular bus stops. When this occurs I will request that the Superintendent announce Bad Weather Bus Stops:

·         Stops were developed with all students’ and drivers’ safety in mind.

·         Stops and times are published and provided to the students in mid-November.

·         Bad weather bus stops are listed on the district website.

·         Once the stops are announced they remain in effect for the entire day.

The Superintendent will alert building administrators.  I request that the School Bus contractors and Building Administrators keep drivers, teachers and support staff aware of updated weather conditions.

If the Superintendent calls an early dismissal, the Public Information Officer will contact radio and television stations, and will activate the administrative telephone tree.  Transportation will contact School Bus contractors and begin driver recall.

The following early dismissal schedule is followed so that older children and working parents can get home in time to meet younger children.

1 hour after initial announcement 1hour 15minutes later

All High Schools                                   All Elementary Schools

All Middle Schools                                Meadowood Elementary

Central School                                      Richardson Park ILC

Meadowood High & Middle Programs

Please copy and distribute this memorandum to your teachers, drivers, and staff.  Encourage them to keep it at home for quick reference.

**Notice to Contractors:  On weekends and holidays, school bus contractors should be available by telephone starting at 8 P.M. the evening before school is scheduled to resume.