Weather Closings and Delays

Weather Closings and Delays

During the winter season, be mindful that delays and cancellations are probable.  As early as possible, weather and road condition information is gathered from various sources, including city, county, state agencies, meteorologists, and personal inspection by school personnel.  The safety of our students and employees is the overriding, deciding factor when cancelling or delaying school. Superintendents decide whether schools will open but it is always a parent/guardian decision whether you want your child to attend that day.  For early morning delays or cancellations, the district makes every effort to notify parents around 5:30 AM. 

College Community is a district that covers 137 square miles so road conditions will vary from one location to another within the district.  Many of our families live on secondary roads which are different from city streets and highways. 

Communication Tools

DISTRICT WEBSITE: The College Community School District will post cancelations, delays, early outs, and other important announcements on the district homepage, www.crprairie.org.  
                                                 
SCHOOL MESSENGER: School Messenger will be the primary communication tool used by the district. The system will place a phone call, email and text message to parents, guardians and staff in the event of a safety or weather related issues.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Posts will also be shared on the district’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, however the most up-to-date and accurate communication will be sent to families via school messenger. 

Facebook
Twitter

LOCAL MEDIA: In addition to direct notifications, local media TV and radio outlets will be contacted as time allows.  

Hard Surface Roads Only

Our transportation department has developed a Hard Surface Only route plan that will be implemented when conditions on gravel roads are determined too hazardous for school buses. The purpose of this plan is to provide alternative bus stops to students who are normally picked up and/or dropped off at stops located on gravel roads. In situations such as drifted or icy gravel roads, or soft surface gravel roads caused by excess rain, this plan will be implemented. 

Winter Weather – Low Temperatures

There are numerous factors to consider when making weather decisions. Below are metrics used across the metro area for delays and cancellations due to low temperatures:When temps fall at or below -15 actual temperature OR -30 windchill / windchill warning  delays and cancellations are examined.  Since there is a wide variation between weather apps and the news, I use the National Weather Service/NOAA temps and models.  We examine temps in one town in the south end of our district and Cedar Rapids, making the decision  based off of the colder of the two.  If the temps are forecasted to rise by  9:00, we delay, if not, we will often cancel.  Depending on the model, I will also look at temps within a degree or two to these targets in context of other weather factors.  These decisions for weather are driven by impacts to students using our transportation.