Emergency School Closings
Protocols Regarding Weather Closures/Delays to the Start of the School Day
Lamoille North towns span approximately 251 square miles, and weather conditions can often be quite different from one end to the other and in between. In addition, we all know that our Vermont weather can be very unpredictable and can change drastically in a short period of time. Safety is the most important factor.
The district's transportation system is centralized, and all buses travel from each of our towns to the campus. If one town experiences freezing rain and our road crews consider the roads potentially unsafe, the district will close school even if the weather conditions and roads in every other town are safe for travel. Decisions must be made based on the safety of all of our students and staff in all of our towns.
Lamoille North takes into account our students who are new drivers on winter roads, whether the faculty, at large, commuting from all over the state, will be able to arrive safely, and whether we will be able to adequately staff the school for the day. The district will usually not have a delayed opening unless our road crews make that suggestion. Sometimes a little extra time to treat the roads is needed, especially if a storm hits after the roads have been sanded, but that is the crews’ decision alone. A majority of the time, the crews are able to manage weather and road conditions to ensure that the roads designated as bus routes are ready in time for a regular opening of the school day.
District administrators rely most heavily on the expertise of our road crews when evaluating weather conditions because they are already out on the roads and have the best “real-time” knowledge. Leaders receive automated alert messages from the State of Vermont and regularly monitor the following sources for forecasts and predictions: The Weather Channel, WCAX, NOAA, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
Lamoille North will make every attempt to make school closure decisions by 5:30 am, after talking with road crews from each town. A message will be sent to all families and staff using contact information we have for you in Infinite Campus.
Please make sure that your contact information is accurate and communicate any changes to your school registrars, or through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal, so that you receive up-to-date information. The district makes every effort to send all notifications between 5:30-5:45 am to prevent staff from getting on the roads and give families enough time to make alternative plans.
If at any time a parent/caregiver feels that conditions at home are such that the roads feel unsafe to drive to school, the parent/caregiver can choose to keep a student(s) home even if we open.