Switzerland County School Decisions During Extreme Cold Temps or Wind Chills
With extreme temperatures, decisions must sometimes be made to either delay the start of school or close school. The following conditions determine how decisions are made during the cold winter temperatures.
On days of predicted cold temperatures, we monitor the National Weather Service for actual temperatures, sustained wind speed, and wind chill for our county area. Other services consulted include The Weather Channel and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov).
Actual temperatures
Delay - If the air temperature is predicted by NOAA and/or TWC to be -10 degrees or below with calm wind (the starting point for severe wind chill concerns), the school may consider a delay for the start of school.
Close - If the air temperature is predicted to remain at -10 degrees or below throughout the morning, with calm wind, the school may consider closing, such a determination will be made as early as possible, including the evening before.
Wind chill temperatures
Delay - Using the Wind Chill Chart, severe wind chill concerns or frostbite emerge at a predicted wind chill temperature at or near -20 degrees for 30 minutes. If the wind chill is predicted by NOAA to be at or near -20 degrees or below and if local wind conditions are predicted to mirror the airport wind conditions the school may consider a delay for the start of school.
Close - If the wind chill is predicted to remain at or near -20 degrees or below throughout the morning, the school may consider closing. The variability of wind speed will likely cause this decision to be made in the morning.
Mechanical conditions
Delay - If some school buses have a hard time starting, but can be started and warm within the time of a two hour delay. we may delay.
Close - HVAC mechanical issues, water issues, or school bus issues that cannot be corrected within a two hour delay.
*The superintendent may make the decision to close schools. If that does happen there are two options:
eLearning day - All students will access their classes online through Google Classroom. Teachers will be available throughout the day via email. eLearning during inclement weather prevents the district from having to make up the school day at the end of the school year.
Make-up Day- The school has days built into our calendar that could be used as possible make-up days. Once those days are used, days will be added to the end of the calendar year to reach the 180 student day requirement.
**As a parent, if you determine that the weather conditions are too dangerous for your child to be out we respect your decision. Simply contact your child’s school and inform them of the absence.