Morris School District
31 Hazel St.
Morristown, NJ 07960
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Although we have had spring weather recently, the winter season has officially started. This “Weather FAQ” is
designed to communicate relevant information so that we can be prepared when inclement weather arrives
next month. Of course, a typical week for our students includes many important concerns such as college
application deadlines, influential marking period assessments and other events. While we believe continuity in
attendance best serves our students for a variety of reasons, the guiding principle during weather events is
always student safety.
The decision to delay the opening of school, close school or dismiss the students early involves many factors.
First, it is important to keep in mind the Morris School District covers over thirty square miles from Morris
Plains to eastern Morris Township and our families live in many different environments: neighborhoods with
sidewalks, well-traveled wide roads, narrow and twisting roads, and roads at many different elevations, and,
therefore, temperature levels. I hope the following “Weather FAQ” will be helpful.
Instant Alert – The Honeywell Instant Alert system is an automated notification system. If you have
previously signed up, your information will carry forward to this year. However, if your contact information
has changed since last year, please go to our website to make the appropriate changes.
http://www.morrisschooldistrict.org/cms/lib02/NJ01001914/Centricity/Domain/275/Honeywell%
2520Instructions%25202015%25202016.
Question: What factors are weighed in the decision to close school?
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Weather Conditions and Forecasts. We receive information on weather conditions from Jeffrey
Paul, the Morris County Director of the Office of Emergency Management as well as from a private
local weather service that provides data relative to our specific geographic area within Morris
County. Even though technological advances have made weather predictions much more reliable
in recent years, weather always contains an unpredictable dynamic. To this point, we generally try
NOT to call a snow day based singularly on weather reports but wait until a storm actually
manifests and evaluate the conditions of our streets and parking lots. We make most decisions at
4:00 AM and weather reports can change significantly in just a few hours.
Information on Road Conditions. We receive information from local police authorities as well as
local public works departments. Main roads and secondary roads are all considered. For example,
Route 24 is often clear, well-salted and passable while secondary roads may not be passable until
much later. We make decisions on the “present” condition of all roads and not predicted conditions at
a certain time.
School Building and Parking Lot Conditions. Our custodial and maintenance staff are always
vigilant in creating safe conditions. However, effective snow and ice removal is sometimes
impossible within a short time frame or if the school parking lot is full of cars.
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Availability of Buses. Of course, buses and parking lots need to be cleared of ice and snow before
they can be made available and this sometimes takes considerable time given the conditions.
Additionally, since the MSD does not own all the buses used to transport students, we are not able
to independently make these decisions without consulting with all parties transporting our
students.
Availability of our Staff. Many of our staff commute to our schools from long distances.
Question: Should I allow my child to drive himself/herself to school during inclement weather? Generally
speaking – NO. Student drivers are inexperienced. Although we do our best to make appropriate and safe
decisions, it is impossible to know every slick corner, area of black ice or untreated road. Statistically, experience
counts. During inclement weather, we advise all students to be transported to school through the use of our buses
or other adult driver. If this is not possible and you feel it is not safe for your child to travel to school, then,
certainly, use your best judgment.
Question: When is the decision made? In most cases, the decision to delay the opening of school or to close
school is made between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM.
Question: When and how are parents notified? In most cases a Honeywell Alert notification will be sent out
between 5:00AM –5:30 AM. Additionally, after the Honeywell Alert is sent out, we will place a notification on
each school’s website and we will notify the following media outlets: News 12 NJ, FIOS 1, Fox 5 Good Day NY,
WABC TV (channel 7), WCBS Radio, NBC NY (website only).
Question: What if weather conditions shift suddenly and worsen? We are aware that reversing a decision can
cause significant disruptions within a household and the community. However, weather is dynamic and, therefore,
our school closing decisions may need to change to ensure everyone’s safety. For example, a few degrees
difference in temperature may turn rain into ice. Moreover, a storm may stall or move faster than originally
forecast which can produce significantly more snow on the roads than anticipated at 4:00 AM. In these instances,
it is possible a delayed-opening may turn into a school closing. We will notify the public by 7:15 AM if this occurs.
Additionally, if we decide on an early dismissal we will notify the public by 10:30 AM for a midday closing.
In the end, please know our district staff continues to diligently work in a comprehensive manner so that we can
make the best decision for our community.
Thank you.
Mackey Pendergrast
Superintendent of Schools