Each winter, families, students, and community members inquire how the decision to close or delay school is made and communicated. Closing or delaying school is difficult for our families; we will utilize this option only when necessary for safety.
When we determine whether to close or delay school, we work collaboratively with the National Weather Service, Nelson’s Bus Company, local township snowplow drivers, and other area school districts. We make the call as early as we can, if possible, the night before a closure. If conditions are unclear until the day of the weather event, the process begins at approximately 3:00 a.m. This is done to better assess the road conditions of the district as a whole and account for in-city and rural routes. Remember that WUSD is just over 200 square miles.
The National Weather Service has moved away from utilizing “wind chill” in its forecast and will now utilize the following terms: extreme cold watch, extreme cold warning, and cold weather advisory. A sustained “extreme cold watch” will be an indicator of schools closing, as that indicates sustained temperatures of -30F.
School closures will be broadcast on television, radio stations, our website, and our Facebook page. We will call, email, and text a message to staff and families. If school is delayed due to inclement weather, morning 4K sessions are canceled. We suggest “liking” our FaceBook page for updates on closures: WWUSD Facebook
In addition to delaying or canceling school, there may be instances where we believe it is in the best interest of the safety of children to have an early release from school or to cancel after-school activities. When either of these situations occurs, the after-school Parks and Recreation childcare programming at our elementary schools is also canceled.
