Decision process for school closings or cancellations

Typically, three physical factors impact the decision to close schools: road conditions, temperature, and visibility. Each time 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 Temps 

• 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.

Communication plan & notifications

• We will make every attempt to have notifications go out by no later than 6:00 AM for school weather-related closings. 

• Communication will go out in multiple formats in an attempt to communicate to all impacted families. This includes emails, app and text notifications, and social media (Facebook, X, and Instagram). 

• 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. 

• Parents & guardians: Please routinely check your contact information in Skyward Family Access to make sure you receive all communication.

Scheduling options 
The following options will be used at Tri-Valley when making Weather-Related or other Emergency Day decisions.

1. E-Learning: Tri-Valley CUSD #3 will primarily utilize E-learning Days for weather-related or other emergency closings. The district 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. 

   • E-Learning Days will consist of teachers and administrators communicating assignments, lessons, and enrichment activities to parents and students via email and the school website by 9:00 AM of the day. 

   • Teachers are available through email and other virtual means to answer questions as they arise during E-Learning Days. 

   • More details concerning E-Learning Days are provided below.

2. Snow (Emergency) day (aka, a traditional snow day): Snow days are considered non-instructional days which must be made up by adding a day to the end of the school-year calendar. A snow/emergency day will most likely be used to avoid back-to-back E-learning days. In other words, in the event that in-person school will not be possible for a second consecutive day, or more, during any given week, a snow day may be utilized. 

   
   

3. Late start: If a late start is determined to be a possibility, a 1-hour late start will be communicated via all communication platforms. School would begin at 9:05 am (HS), 9:10 am (ES), and 9:15 am (MS) and would dismiss at regular times. 
   

4. Cancellation of 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.

 Student Learning during E-learning days

• Communication: For E-Learning Days, teachers and administrators will provide assignments, lessons, and enrichment activities to parents and students by 9:00 AM. These assignments will be communicated via email, Google Classroom, and the Tri-Valley3.org website. Teachers will be available through email and other virtual means to answer questions as they arise.

• Lessons: Each grade level of teachers collaborate on E-Learning Days to collectively develop experiences which are grade-level appropriate and a continuation of what has been happening in the classroom. (Examples: 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.

• Grading: 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.

Practices, games, & 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 E-Learning 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.

• On E-Learning Days, we encourage parents/guardians to follow up with your student to make sure they understand their work and assignments. If you or your student 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.