Weather related cancellation page

District Weather Information
If schools are to be closed or activities cancelled or re-scheduled due to weather conditions, the information will be posted on the Wichita Public Schools' main page, www.usd259.com. Rescheduled athletic events will be posted on Athletics' web page. District staff weather information can be found here.

Severe Weather Procedures

School Closing: If winter weather conditions are of such a nature that the overall safety of students would be greatly jeopardized and the operations of the school district would be significantly impaired, a decision to cancel school will be made by 6:00 a.m. on the morning of a school day.

If school is cancelled, a ParentLink phone message and email will be sent to all students' and employees' homes and information will be posted on the district's main page, www.usd259.com. Local news media will also be notified. Tune to a local radio or television station for notification of such closings. A voice message will be posted on the Wichita Public Schools' Emergency Weather Information Hotline: 973-4259.

Parents and employees can subscribe to have Emergency Weather Notifications emailed to them at home and/or at work.
Decisions to close schools are based on a number of variables including actual and projected snowfall, icing and wind-chill factors, ability of the bus fleet to transport students, and assessment of street and road conditions, including snow/ice treatment and removal. Power and heat to buildings is also a factor that is considered.
Early Dismissal: If a winter weather condition develops while school is in session, early dismissal of school may be required. However, such would only occur under the most extreme conditions. If a decision is made during the school day, the different types of communication listed above would also be used to notify parents and employees.
Late Buses. During times of severe weather, conditions may be of such a nature that buses may be running late. If such occurs, specific information will be relayed to local news media.
Emergency Situations. On rare occasion, an emergency situation may arise that could force the closing or early dismissal of one or more schools. If such occurs, specific information will be relayed to local news media. Schools will notify parents/guardians.

Information for District Staff:
Snow Days Memo from Human Resources for 2009-2010 (PDF).

The following emergency weather procedures are in effect if schools are closed, but administrative offices remain open:

Principals and other building administrators will make every effort to be at their school at the time when students normally arrive. The district’s first priority is to provide for the health and safety of students whose parents might not have been alerted that schools are closed and to check building heating or maintenance issues.
Teachers, paraprofessionals, and benefited school-based food service workers are not expected to report for duty and will later be expected to make up the day when students are present for makeup, if required. All other school-based employees are expected to report for duty. This includes administrators, secretaries, clerks, and custodians.
All district office employees, including the School Service Center staff, are expected to report for duty and assume normal responsibilities.

Employee Policy P4550 - Major Emergency Work

Policy Statement - The Superintendent of Schools, or designee, will be responsible for declaring a work situation as a major emergency. A major emergency would normally require a minimum of 20 employees to work the emergency which may be caused by a severe snowstorm, tornado, fire, hail, and/or unusual circumstances.
The full policy can be reviewed here.

To view The National Weather Service web site, click here.