Decision Process for School Closings or Cancellations

Typically, three physical factors impact the decision to close schools: road conditions, temperature, and visibility. These three factors are assessed locally within our district to determine whether conditions are safe enough to have school or school events. Every effort will be made to make a decision and inform families as quickly as possible but a decision to cancel school and/or events will not be made solely on a forecast.

Snow- or Ice-Related Cancellations 
Snow events are the most common days for school closings. Factors that are considered when deciding on whether or not to cancel school:

Accumulation and drifting 
Icing 
Wind speeds (particularly for the country) 
Temperature 
Road conditions 
Forecast estimates for continued precipitation

When these conditions are impacted the superintendent will consult with our Transportation Director, our local Township Road Commissioners, and other area superintendents. There is no single rule of thumb for accumulation amounts and much of the decision depends on the presence of blowing and/or drifting snow especially on country roads. 

 Temperature-Related Cancellations

Extreme temperatures are often a part of our winters and these severe low temperatures can impact people as well as our buses. Factors considered when making temperature-related cancellation decisions include: 

Temperature 
Wind 
Duration and timing of cold temperature
Safe operation of busses

Our key source of data is the NOAA Wind Chill Chart (shown below). When inside the 30-minute exposure area of the graph, attendance is questionable and dependent upon road conditions. When wind chills are likely to be to the right of that area, it is unlikely that we would attend.

Notifications

We will make every attempt to have notifications go out by no later than 6:00 AM for school weather-related closings. We will send this notification out in multiple formats in an attempt to communicate to all impacted families. This includes emails, phone voice messaging, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). Please make sure you routinely check your contact information in Skyward Family Access to make sure you receive all communication. We also strongly encourage all parents and students to download the Tri-Valley School app (for Apple or Android devices) to receive instant notification on school closings and other potentially important information. 

Weather-Related Scheduling Options 

For most weather-related closings, Tri-Valley will utilize E-Learning Days. Tri-Valley CUSD #3 has a board- and state-approved E-Learning Plan which allows for virtual learning days if and when weather does not permit us to be in session. On these days, teachers and administrators will email and post assignments, lessons, and enrichment activities to parents and students by 9:00 AM. Teachers will be available through email and other virtual means to answer questions as they arise. (More details concerning E-Learning Days are provided below). Additionally, the following options might be considered and utilized:  

Late Starts: If a late start is determined to be a possibility, a 1-hour late start will be communicated via all communication platforms.

 Before/After School Events: Occasionally, after school events may be canceled even on regular school days when there are anticipated weather issues which could cause poor road conditions and visibility or severe temperature. 

 E-Learning Days

When E-Learning Days are announced, teachers and administrators will email and post assignments, lessons, and enrichment activities to parents and students by 9 AM. Teachers will be available through email and other virtual means to answer questions as they arise. 

 How does this look at each grade level or school? 

Each grade level of teachers will collaborate on E-Learning Days to collectively develop experiences which are grade-level appropriate and ideally a continuation of what has been happening in the classroom. Examples could include a review of content in social studies, a reinforcement activity in math, a video introduction of a unit, or a spelling or writing prompt. When possible at the elementary grades, teachers typically send home materials in their folders if an E-Learning Day is a possibility. At higher grade levels, students will be engaged through digital platforms such as Google Classroom which they already use for regular school days. Teachers may also connect to students through school-provided student email or video conferencing like Google Meets or Zoom.

 Will students that cannot complete the work be penalized?

Absolutely not!  We understand there are many factors including a lack of internet access or family factors which can prevent some students from fully engaging or completing tasks assigned by instructors. We also want to be clear that not all activities will need the internet to be completed, especially at primary grades. E-Learning days are meant to enhance learning and be formative in nature. Any activity that is assigned during an E-Learning day will not be directly tied to a grade upon return to school. Our teachers will allow students to “catch up” if needed upon our return to school.

 Why E-Learning Days?

In the past, when a snow day was called, that “instructional day” was tacked on to the end of the school year. This extended the school year and often caused problems with scheduling because of our desire to firmly schedule AP testing, graduation ceremonies, and other end of year events. Tri-Valley CUSD #3 was one of the first school districts in the state to begin using E-Learning Days during the 2017-2018 school year and then learned a great deal about what works best during the covid pandemic. We understand there is an essential balance needed to use E-Learning effectively. This means providing quality learning experiences and consistent staff support virtually, without overwhelming students and families at home. It is very important to our staff that your student and family have a quality experience on an E-Learning Day. 

Practices, Games, and Events on Days with Weather-Related Closings 

As a rule of thumb, if the roads were bad enough to cancel school, we most likely will not have evening events. If school is canceled, before school activities including before care will be canceled. All after school activities on "digital days" will be decided upon by noon of that day.  Cold days offer a few options based on temperature changes later in the day. 

How you can help as a Parent and Family

• Student safety is always our first priority, and we ask for your assistance by dressing students appropriately for current conditions. Though we fully understand that a bad hair day can happen due to wearing a hat, please send your children to school with a coat, hat, and gloves! 

   

• If your child is driving, we recommend equipping their vehicle with an emergency kit just in case.  IDOT suggests carrying jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, an ice scraper, traction material, blankets, non-perishable food, and a first aid kit.

• Our staff will provide online learning on any weather related school closing.  These days will still "count" as attendance days.  We don't want our students to get bored at home 😉.  Please follow up with your child to make sure they understand their work and assignments. If you have questions, please contact your child's teacher or building principal. 

• Finally, making a decision about having a snow day is a difficult one! Each situation is always a little different. We will use our best judgment and appreciate your support as we work to ensure student learning and student safety.