Eudora Schools Weather Procedures getting information How will I know if school is canceled? We make every effort to announce weather cancellations as soon as possible after a decision is made. •Evening decision: If a decision is made in the evening to cancel school for the next day, automated phone calls will begin no later than 9:45 p.m., with the latest call going out at approximately 10:30 p.m. •Morning decision: If a decision is made after 9:30 p.m. the night before (therefore after the point where a broadcast could be launched by 9:45 p.m.), the broadcast will begin at 6 a.m. the next morning, with the latest calls going out at approximately 6:45 a.m. •Employee notification: District staff members will receive an automated call as soon as the decision is made, as late as 11 p.m. the night before, or as early as 5 a.m. on the morning of cancellation. •Canceling in the middle of the school day: If weather forces an early closure, we will contact all parents and emergency contacts and notify area media outlets. It is so important for us to be able to reach parents, guardians and caregivers during daytime hours. Please give your child’s school any current phone numbers and emergency contact information. Other sources of information Any time of the day or night, here’s where anyone can learn if schools will be closed: •Facebook page: www.facebook.com/eudoraschools •District mobile app (search Eudora Schools in your smart phone or tablet app store) •District website: www.eudoraschools.org •Area media outlets sm winter weather Who makes the decision to cancel school? The superintendent and transportation director work together to determine if roads and rural bus routes are safe for travel. Considerations also include current weather, forecasts and the condition of district facilities and grounds. Who is on duty on a snow day? The district office usually will be open, although office hours and/or staffing may be limited. Principals and 12-month employees typically also report for work, as they are able. What if there’s school when the weather is extremely cold? Students should always wear appropriate clothing when it’s cold outside, including heavy coats, hats, gloves or mittens and warm shoes or boots. There are indoor areas for students to use at each district shuttle stop. Elementary recess is held indoors if the temperature or wind chill falls below 25 degrees. As always, parents may choose to keep their children home for health and safety reasons. Notify your child’s school if your child will be absent for any reason. tornadoes & severe thunderstorms During a weather emergency If there is a “take cover” situation, everyone will move to designated areas in each school that offer the greatest protection. Please wait until after the severe weather threat has passed before attempting to pick up children from school. Tornadoes Tornado drills are held three times during the year to help prepare staff members and students to respond during an actual tornado warning. Maps of tornado drill routes are posted in all rooms. Please note that the shelters in our schools are not public and open only to the people who are in our schools when severe weather strikes. Severe weather during outdoor events The safety of our parents, coaches and fans is always our top priority during any activity or sporting event. Our district team monitors weather conditions any time events are held outdoors. Lightning can often pose a deadly threat, even if it’s not raining. Severe thunderstorms, hail or tornadoes also will prompt officials to take action: •Evacuation and sheltering information will be announced over the facility’s speaker system. •Fans will be asked to move to their cars (if appropriate) or shelter in the designated school or district location. •The facility (stadium or outdoor field) will be closed, and nobody will be allowed to stay inside until the severe weather passes. •If the game resumes, fans will be re-admitted and teams will be allowed time to warm up before play begins. Parents should always consider a threat of severe weather when allowing a student to attend a game as a spectator. All fans should plan ahead to determine how to stay in contact with family members and friends if severe weather strikes. 11-15