Inclement Weather
Inclement Weather
The decision to close school due to inclement weather is not easy. We know that students should attend school but we also know that we cannot control the weather and our priority is the safety of our students and staff.
In the event of inclement weather one of the following options will be implemented:
School Canceled/Closed
All school buildings will be closed. Evening activities will be determined separately based on if the weather improves.
Early Dismissal
If inclement weather conditions develop during the school day, it may be necessary to dismiss students early. We will do our best to notify parents immediately after a decision is made.
Inclement Weather FAQs
How are parents and staff notified of school closing?
In times of emergencies/school closings, information will be shared with the parents and community through the following:
- Post on Public Schools of Petoskey Website
- Post on Public Schools of Petoskey Facebook page
- Automated robocalls to parents
- Emails and text messages to parents
- Local news stations
Who decides to close school?
The Superintendent decides to close school based on the factors below.
How do we decide to close school?
- Information on current road conditions from our transportation director and road commission staff who monitor the roads throughout the night and into the morning
- Current weather conditions and predicted weather conditions
- Amount of snow and ice accumulation
- Duration and timing of the snow or ice
- Temperature and wind chill
- School building conditions (electricity, heat, water)
- Operation of buses and the ability to travel on snow-covered or icy roads
- Consultation with neighboring school districts and other officials
When do we decide to close school?
The decision as to whether or not to close school is usually made in the early morning hours due to changing weather conditions or forecasts. We also need time for parking lots and sidewalks to be cleared and sufficient time for the transportation staff to travel the routes safely.
The alerting of a school closure will go out as soon as we decide in order to give families as much notice as possible. We try to make the decision by 5:30 am and inform families soon after.
In the event the decision is made later, and buses have already picked up some students we will contact families and return students home safely.
Are there snow days built into the calendar?
The district does not build snow days into the calendar, but Michigan allows up to six days for emergency closings.
Parent Decision
Remember, the District will make the best decision based on the current information to determine if schools will close or remain open.
While we do our best to monitor conditions throughout the cities in our district boundaries, we cannot evaluate every road or side street. Parents always have the right to decide in the best interest of their children and families. If you feel that it is not safe for your child to attend school, you always have the option to keep your child at home.
How you can help
Make sure you have an up-to-date phone number and email on file. Make sure to check social media, our website, and news channels.
