Closing or delaying schools because of inclement weather.
As the 2009/2010 school year is upon us, we understand that our decision to delay or close school in bad weather has a big impact on families. We also understand that our students are better served academically and socially by being in school. As always, our top priority is the safety of our students on the bus, walking, or driving to school. Year after year we are asked questions on how the decision is made on delays and cancellations. With this in mind, please allow me to share with you the process for deciding whether to keep schools open, delay the opening or close schools, and how you are notified of the decision.
Our Director of Operations, Dennis McPheron, and Transportation Supervisor, Jerri Strait, begin to watch the weather very closely starting between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. every morning. Weather radar, radio and TV stations are monitored and roads are driven to visually document the weather. Contact with our other staff members as well as other area superintendents is extremely important in this process to see if weather conditions are different and changing in our county school areas. Once a decision is made, a call tree starts which includes our transportation staff, website, and calls to radio and TV stations.
Although my staff and I do our absolute best, we know that often there is no perfect decision. The fact that our high school and middle schools start earlier than our elementary schools, makes our decision extremely difficult when ice or fog are involved. If you do not feel that it is safe for your child to attend school, please use your best judgment whether he or she should attend.
My hope is that this explanation will help everyone understand the process that Findlay City Schools uses to make the best possible decision for the safety of our students and staff. Thank you in advance for your patience.
Dean Wittwer
Superintendent of Findlay City Schools
For information regarding school delays and cancellations due to inclement weather, please visit the district website at http://www.findlaycityschools.org/delay.shtml
You can find information by tuning to local and regional media: WFIN, 1330 AM; WBVI, 96.7 FM; WKXA, 100.5 FM; WHMQ, 108 FM; WNWO, TV 24; WTVG, TV 13; and WTOL, TV 11.
