Dear Parents and Guardians,
With winter weather approaching, we want to remind you of our school district's procedures for weather-related delays, cancellations, and recess guidelines. Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and our decisions are made carefully based on current and forecasted weather conditions.
Cold Temperature Delays and Closures
For extreme cold, our decisions are guided by sustained temperature forecasts. When temperatures reach a cold weather advisory range of -20 to -30 degrees, we begin to consider delaying or canceling school. Additional factors will also be weighed to ensure student safety. Should temperatures fall to -30 degrees or lower, an extreme cold warning will usually result in a school closure. However, there may be rare cases where a 2-hour delay is implemented if conditions are expected to improve as temperatures rise after sunrise.
Please make sure your children are dressed warmly for these extreme temperatures, as buses may be colder than usual during these times.
Snow-Related Delays and Closures
Decisions for snow-related delays or closures are made based on real-time road conditions and forecasts. Early in the morning, district personnel and the Nelsons Bus Company will assess road safety to determine whether to proceed with a regular schedule, delay, or cancel school. While we aim to communicate promptly, please note that due to the unpredictability of winter storms, we may not always be able to make a decision the evening before. In cases of delay or closure, announcements will be made by 6:00 a.m. at the latest.
Recess Guidelines
We also have guidelines for recess based on temperature: if the sustained "feels like" temperature is zero degrees or below, students will stay indoors. When "feels like" temperatures are above zero, recess will typically proceed as usual.
Below are the sources to find our weather-related announcements:
Thrillshare- Phone calls, emails, texts. Be sure the phone number and email address on file with your student's school are up-to-date.
Whitewater Unified School District Website - https://www.wwusd.org
Whitewater Unified School District Social Media Outlets
News Channels: WTMJ 4, WISN 12, WMTV 15, CBS 58, WISC 3, WITI 6, WKOW 27
Radio Stations: WSLD 104.5, WTMJ 620, 1230, 92.7, 94.9, 105.5, 105.1
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep our students safe and comfortable during winter weather. Now would be a good time to make contact with your child’s school to make sure your phone numbers and email address are up to date so that you receive all updates via text and email.
Respectfully,
Samuel Karns
Superintendent
Whitewater Unified School District