Policy 3643 – Emergency School Closings and/or Learning Adjustments
Only the superintendent of schools and/or their designee is authorized to close school buildings due to inclement weather and/or intermittent emergency/crisis situations. If the decision to close buildings is made, a public announcement will be made via various platforms no later than 5 a.m. unless emergency circumstances require otherwise. In the instance of long-term situations, such as a pandemic, decisions regarding closures and/or learning adjustments shall include board discussion and action unless mandated by the state or federal government.
If a public announcement is not made by 5 a.m. on any given day, schools will be open and following their regular schedules.
The superintendent reserves the right to close the district for all students and staff if deemed necessary.
LEGAL REF.: Wisconsin Statutes Sections
- 115.01(10) [School day definition]
- 121.02(1)(f) [School district standards; minimum hours of instruction]
- 121.56 [School bus routes]
- 118.15 [Compulsory school attendance]
CROSS REF.:
- Policy 3511 – Transportation
- Policy 5310 – Student Attendance
- Policy 6210 – School Year Calendar
- Employee Handbook
- Emergency Operations Plan
AFFIRMED:Â Sept. 24, 1991
REVISED:
- Jan. 29, 2002
- Oct. 28, 2003
- Dec. 18, 2007
- Sept. 23, 2014
- Oct. 28, 2014
- Sept. 22, 2015
- March 28, 2017
- July 25, 2017
- June 26, 2018
- Sept. 24, 2019
- Dec. 8, 2020
- July 26, 2022
- Dec. 12, 2023
Rule 3643 – Emergency School Closings and/or Learning Adjustments
The district puts student safety first, which is why several factors are taken into consideration when determining whether to close buildings due to inclement weather and/or emergency/crisis situations, such as:
- Whether a weather warning has been issued and remains in effect at or after 5 a.m. of the day in question
- Warnings issued in advance are often canceled due to a change in storm systems and the district does not want to make decisions based on inaccurate data/information
- Whether there is a sustained wind chill of -34 degrees or lower
- Whether there is a sustained temperature of -20 degrees or lower
- Whether there is or will be a heavy accumulation of snow, especially during typical travel times to and from school
- Are streets and sidewalks clear?
- Are buses unable to run due to extreme cold or unplowed streets?
- Are driving conditions hazardous?
- Are there power or phone outages?
If school is not canceled and a parent/guardian believes their child is safer at home, the parent/guardian may keep their child home. Keeping a child home due to weather will be recorded as an excused absence on the student’s record per Policy 5310 and Wis. Statute 118.15 so long as parents/guardians report the absence in a timely manner.
In the event schools are closed or the arrival time is changed due to inclement weather and/or emergency/crisis situations, an announcement will be made:
- Via email and/or text message to all families and staff who have updated and accurate contact information listed in student and staff databases.
- On KUSD and school websites, KUSD Channel 20, social media platforms, and 262-359-SNOW (7669).
- Via the appropriate avenues to be shared on local and extended news station platforms.
Announcements will be made by 5 a.m. unless emergency circumstances require otherwise. If schools are closed, all after-school activities, including sports, fine arts and evening events, also will be canceled. When KUSD schools are closed, no transportation will be provided to private and parochial schools.
Three procedures to look/listen for
Unless notified otherwise, Procedure 1 is in effect. Nothing prevents the district from enacting any of the procedures below on a case-by-case basis if impending emergencies/crises are isolated to individual schools/buildings.
- Procedure 1: All schools in KUSD will be open today. Students and staff are expected to attend.
- Procedure 2: All schools in KUSD will open two hours late, and buses that transport students will be running approximately two hours late. There will be no a.m. or p.m. early childhood, speech impact or 4K classes.
- Procedure 3: All schools in KUSD will be closed; no students are expected to report. The Kenosha Senior Center also will be closed. KUSD employees – see below for attendance guidelines.
Staff reporting requirements
Two (2) days are built into the academic calendar for school closings.
If Procedure 1 is enacted, staff will be expected to report to work at their assigned buildings as normally scheduled.
If Procedure 2 is enacted, staff will be expected to report to work at their assigned buildings as normally scheduled.
If Procedure 3 is enacted, only specified facilities staff shall report to work the first two days, no others shall report to work. Specified facilities staff include those required for snow removal and/or other maintenance needs as indicated by his/her supervisor.
Beyond the first two days: Teachers, educational support professionals and interpreters should not report to work when school is closed due to weather or emergency purposes, but must make up state mandated student contact time at a future date(s) to be determined by administration.
Administrative, supervisory, technical personnel; administrative support professionals; community and support; facilities; and food service must report to work or take a vacation or personal day.
Timesheet employees will not be required to work when schools are closed and will not be compensated unless their direct supervisor requests otherwise, in which case a timesheet for hours worked must be submitted.
Indoor/outdoor guidelines
- General guidelines: 10 degrees or below, wind chill factor of 0 degrees or below and rain/drizzle/blizzard = indoor recess, indoor noon recess and early entrance to door areas/hallways.
- Administrator’s responsibilities: Principals are responsible for the timely implementation of the guidelines, reasonable supervision of students under all circumstances and informing parents each year of the district’s expectations regarding indoor periods due to weather conditions.