Winter Weather
Winter Weather Procedures
School Closing Resources
Message from our Superintendent
Dear Washington Central Educational Community –
As we move into the time of year when the weather can impact our daily commutes, I would like to assure you that the safety of our students is my highest priority. I would also like to explain how we make determinations about school cancellations, delayed starts, and early releases in general.
Within 72 hours of a potential inclement weather event, we start to receive information from both the Burlington office of the National Weather Service and local meteorologist Roger Hill warning us that there might be a chance of difficult driving conditions. The day before the event, we receive updates from both of our weather services with storm models that predict the timing, the intensity, the duration, and the types of precipitation and the temperature. Approximately 10 hours before we have to make the school closing decision, we receive an updated model package and check-in with the town road crews to ascertain their readiness for the storm. On the day of the event, at 4:30 am, we start a communication protocol with all five town road crews, First Student bus company, and Roger Hill to see if anything has changed from the night before. By 5:40 am we have to make the determination to run our regular schedule or to delay or cancel school. If we are any later than this time, the bus company and the town road crews cannot ensure that students will arrive at school safely.
If the predictions are different than what a bus driver experiences while on the road, our drivers are instructed to stop where they are and wait for support from the town road crews to help improve the driving conditions. At the same time, the buses are in constant communication with both the bus garage and the supervisory union office.
I am thankful that First Student and the town road crews work with us to always make the safety of our students their first priority to ensure that everyone stays safe while on the roads.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please let me know.
Superintendent of Schools
Washington Central Supervisory Union