1. Weather Decision Procedure Director of Operations
Johnny Giles
Chief of Staff
Dr. Jeff Wilson
Director of Operations
December 15, 2016

2. When the Threat of Inclement Weather is Present, the Huntsville City Schools Weather Safety Team (WST) begins the Process of Making Critical Decisions for Continuation or Dismissal of School Activities
WST consists of Deputy Superintendent, Chief of Staff, Director of Operations, Transportation Coordinator, Director of Child Nutrition Programs, Director of Communications, Director of Community Engagement, Risk/Safety Manager, Security Coordinator, one Director of Instruction (designated by the Deputy Superintendent), and the Director of Athletics and Extracurricular Activities. Other HCS personnel may be added to the WST as required.
WST members attend EMA briefings in the Madison County Emergency Operations Center and monitor changing weather conditions until enough data is available to make an informed decision
Transportation Coordinator, Safety Manager and/or Maintenance Manager will assess critical roadways, typically between 4:00 a.m.-5:00 a.m. if necessary
WST convenes via teleconference at 5:00 a.m. to determine the appropriate response
Recommendation communicated to Superintendent for approval
Superintendent’s decision immediately communicated to the public through all available communication channels
NOTE: If enough details are available to make an informed decision, this process may take place the day before

3. Hazardous Travel Conditions Determine whether HCS will Close or Delay School Operations
If conditions are deemed hazardous for travel, HCS will close or delay opening in order to allow for weather conditions to improve or be remediated.
Meals may be delayed or cancelled, depending on the circumstances.

4. If Conditions are Deemed Safe for Travel, but Unsafe for Students (e.g., Due to Extended Exposure to the Elements for Students Who Walk or Ride the Bus), a Delayed School Schedule Will be Issued
Employees will report to work at their regularly scheduled time.
Buses will run on a delayed schedule to allow time for inclement weather conditions to improve.
Official school day for students will begin in accordance with delayed bus schedule.
Students who drive or are dropped off by parents may still report to school at regularly scheduled time, but are not required to be there until official start of classes in conjunction with delayed bus schedules.
Meals will be served at their regularly scheduled times.
Principals may work on a case-by-case basis with employees who have children to determine appropriate arrangements that do not create undue hardship.

5. If Inclement Weather becomes Imminent during Regularly Scheduled School and/or Normal Operation Hours, the WST Will Confer to Discuss Conditions and Options for a Possible Early Dismissal
Considerations for early dismissal include but are not limited to:
bus route completion times,
bus mobilization time span,
dangerous road conditions,
severity of threat,
field trips, special events,
after-school extracurricular activities,
and community events scheduled for the day.
If decision for an early dismissal is made, dismissal order will be as follows:
Elementary, P8, and high schools will be dismissed first,
Followed by middle and junior high schools, 30 minutes later
This will allow the buses that service elementary and middle schools to run their normal afternoon routes.
If schools are dismissed early or cancelled for inclement weather, all after-school activities and events will be cancelled.

6. Once a Decision for Cancellation, Delay or Early Dismissal is Made, it will be Communicated to the Public and School Employees Through all Available Communication Methods
Communication methods may include, but are not limited to the following:
School Cast (phone, , text)
Media Release
Social Media
Nixle Notification Services (EMA’s notification system)

7. Principals and Designated Staff will Remain on Campuses Until All Students and Non-Essential Staff Members Leave the Building
Principals will submit a closure report to their Director of Instruction via or phone, confirming that the campus is clear of students.
Directors of Instruction will, in turn, notify the Deputy Superintendent (or designee) once all schools within their area of responsibility have submitted their closure reports.
Campus Security personnel will remain on campuses until all students and staff have departed and submit closure reports to the Security Control Room.
The Security Control Room will report to the Security Coordinator and the Operations Director when campuses are completely empty.
The Director of Operations will report to the Superintendent when campuses are completely empty.

8. The Decision Tree Outlines Decision Making Process Regarding Delays and Closures