Emergency Closure Protocols

Dear Abington School District Community,

As we approach the winter season, I write to provide our plan should weather conditions or another emergency impact our school schedule.

Abington School District administrators, with guidance provided by our subscription-based AccuWeather service providers / meteorologists, consult with Abington Township Emergency Management and other school leaders in Montgomery County (in particular our local neighboring school districts) to make a determination on whether to adjust school schedules in response to an impending storm. Inclement weather decisions are always made with safety top of mind, followed closely by wanting to ensure we are causing the least disruption to our students' education and their families' lives.

We may not always get it right as weather in our region can be unpredictable, but school closures, delays or dismissals are not decisions we take lightly, as we know that this can be an inconvenience and hardship on our families who need to make arrangements and adjust schedules accordingly.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Regards,

Dr. Jeffrey S. Fecher

Superintendent of Schools

Abington School District's academic calendar is based upon instructional hours, versus school days. This means that throughout the year, unanticipated school closures, late arrivals and early dismissals can all impact the school calendar and our District's ability to meet the amount of hours required by Pennsylvania school code.

• Traditional Emergency Closure Days (Days 1–6): Up to six days of closure are built into the calendar for inclement weather or another emergency. No instruction will take place on these days.
• Flexible Instruction Days (Days 7–11): If needed, up to five Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs) will be used to keep the school year ending on schedule in June. Instruction will take place virtually on these days.

Please note: The YMCA before- and after-school care will not operate on days when schools are closed, delayed or dismissed early.

Abington School District administration aims to communicate a closure announcement as soon as we are able, though often weather patterns in our area can shift suddenly.

Closure announcements may be made the night before, but will always be announced no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of closure. We will make every effort to make this decision the night prior to provide as much time as possible for our families and staff to make appropriate arrangements.

Abington School District is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to use Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs), which allow instruction to continue asynchronously from home when conditions prevent the District from delivering instruction in the customary manner. Should the school calendar require the use of a FID, we will notify families ahead of time.

Should weather conditions develop during the day that would make travel dangerous, we will dismiss school early. To prepare for the possibility of an unplanned early dismissal, parents/guardians should have arrangements in place for their children. In almost all scenarios, we will make sure students receive lunch prior to dismissal.

In the event that school is operating on a two-hour delayed opening, students are to report to their bus stops or schools two hours later than their usually scheduled time.

Abington School District will notify parents/guardians of a closure, dismissal or delay via our:

• Email and automated voice/text messaging system. Please be sure your information is up to date in Skyward to receive these notifications.
• District website/mobile app
• Social media accounts (@AbingtonSD on Facebook and Instagram)
• Local broadcast stations and their respective websites

Automated voice calls and text messages were sent to your phone number(s) listed in Skyward at the same time you received this email. If you did not receive a phone call and/or text message, this means you will not receive an emergency notification either.

Please log into Skyward as soon as possible to check that your contact information is updated.

1. To update emergency contact information, log into Skyward Family Access and click the “Student Info” tab on the left side of the screen.
2. Click the “Request Changes” text on the right hand side of the screen to select the information for which changes are needed.
3. Please allow 24 hours for your changes to go into effect.

Please keep in mind that transportation delays may occur on days of inclement weather, especially if roads are closed due to fallen debris or ice. Download the Zonar MyView app to track the status of your student’s bus to and from school.