Whenever severe weather is in the forecast, the district leadership follows an established process based on benchmarking best practices. Weather conditions outside this school district generally are not included in the decision-making process (i.e., a neighboring school district is closed) as conditions may not be the same.

For emergency closings and late starts, coordination starts as early as 4:30 a.m. of the applicable school day. Normally no later than 5 a.m., a recommendation is forwarded to the superintendent. If the superintendent elects to keep schools open, no public communications are made. If a decision is made to close schools, normally by 5:30 a.m. the news media are called, the ParentLink and Campus Messenger systems are activated and all websites, and social media outlets are updated.

For more information about school emergencies and closings, visit www.isd728.org/Closings.