Schools
Do You Know School Closing Procedures for SPS and L-S?
In the latest You Ask, Patch Answers segment, we look into how the town's two school districts decide to close school due to inclement weather.
With the first snowflakes of the season experienced earlier this week, parents may be wondering when the first snow day will be this year.
Last year Sudbury experienced an active snow pattern and was forced to use all of its snow days between Sudbury Public Schools and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
To prepare for this winter season, here is how SPS and L-S decides whether to cancel classes and how the information is shared:
SPS
The Superintendent will make the open/close/delay decision informed by input from local weather service, Sudbury DPW, Sudbury Police and area superintendents. The decision starts with an assumption that schools will be open and will operate on a regular schedule. Weather and travel conditions will determine if closing or a 1 or 2-hour delay may be necessary.
Once schools have opened for the day, it is highly unlikely that students will be dismissed early. The decision to dismiss a school or all schools rests with the Superintendent in collaboration with the principal(s). Lincoln-Sudbury will be consulted but a joint decision is not required. School principals are empowered to contact the Superintendent with the recommendation to dismiss students early based on conditions that exist at the school.
Find out what's happening in Sudburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
It is assumed that buses will run their regular routes any time school is open. During any type of severe storm, drivers will adjust the stops to better accommodate students and parents. This may include waiting longer at the stop or modifying the location or number of stops. Parents should understand that during storms or inclement weather, pick-up and drop-off times will be extended.
Parents are requested to ensure that the students are dressed appropriately for extreme weather conditions. It is unlikely that school will be cancelled because of extreme temperature conditions, so appropriate dress is important for travel to and from school, waiting for the bus, and for school time hours. Heavy coats, gloves/mittens, hats and appropriate footwear is vital in extremely cold conditions; appropriate dress and footwear that meets the school dress codes is required during extremely warm conditions.
Find out what's happening in Sudburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In the case of emergency, a parent may request that a student who does not normally ride a bus be allowed to ride the bus to a particular stop. This would only be accommodated on an existing route, at an existing stop, and providing space is available on the bus.
If a bus is unable to travel on a particular road or unable to reach a particular stop, the driver will notify the bus dispatcher immediately. The dispatcher and driver will call parents of the students affected AND call the Sudbury Transportation Office, which in turn will notify the schools. No elementary student will be released at a non-regular bus stop unless a parent or designated adult is present to receive the student. Students shall not be left at a stop with the assumption that a parent will be coming.
If a parent or recognized adult is not present, an elementary child will remain on the bus and returned to the school. Middle School students may be released at, or near, the designated stop providing the student indicates that he/she has a safe place to go and is able to get there.
If a decision is made to dismiss school early, school principals will initiate the school dismissal notification plan. This will include initiating an emergency phone chain, an e-mail blast, a direct phone contact from a school employee, or any combination of these options. METCO students will be released as early as possible.
The METCO office will contact all parents and, to the extent possible, arrange for a single drop-off of students.
If a decision is made to delay the dismissal of a school or schools, school principals will initiate the school delayed dismissal notification plan. A school principal is empowered to make a decision to hold students at school or delay bus loading or leaving, if conditions are, or potentially could become, unsafe for travel. Parents will be informed of dismissal procedures and approximate timeline.
In the event of inclement weather, announcements of school cancellations and delayed openings will be made on the major radio and TV stations in the area and on the recorded school closing lines at each school.
RECORDED ANNOUNCEMENT OF SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYED OPENINGIn the event of inclement weather, you may call any of the schools and dial the school closing extension (after 6:00 a.m.) for recorded information concerning closings or delays for that day. The message will announce the date and the nature of the cancellation or delay. On rare occasions, changing weather conditions may warrant a change in the announcement. Therefore, it is advisable to call again later to check if there has been a change.
L-S
L-S is a separate district from Lincoln K-8 and Sudbury K-8. When listening to school cancellation announcements you must hear Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School District. Here are the stations the school reports to. Most have alert systems to text or alert people when there are cancellations.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.