Inclement Weather
When adverse weather occurs, district personnel carefully consider conditions and whether a normal school day can safely proceed. In these instances, the safety of students and staff, particularly during morning and afternoon travel times, is prioritized.
If a decision is made to change our normal school schedule, the district's objective is to provide at least two hours notice prior to the start or end of the school day. Families who have signed up for notifications receive an automated phone call, text message and email from BHM Schools. Alerts are also posted on the district website and social media, and shared with local TV stations and KRWC Radio.
When inclement weather occurs, the district superintendent and the director of finance and operations (including transportation) personally drive a representative portion of paved and unpaved roads around the district. The director of finance and operations also consults with the bus company, and may communicate with city and county officials about snowplowing or ice-treating schedules. The superintendent tunes in to National Weather Service webinars provided specifically for school officials, and communicates with other area superintendents before making a decision.
Weather is unpredictable, so aside from extreme cases, the decision to change the school schedule is rarely made in advance.
A common misconception is that decisions to keep school open are motivated by financial considerations. This is not the case. Our school year funding is fixed, and is not reduced when we lose a day due to weather. Rather, our decision to hold school if conditions allow is motivated by our commitment to educate our students.
Yes. The district may conclude that we can safely transport students and keep school open, but an individual parent may disagree with our decision. Under such conditions, parents may use their own judgment regarding the attendance of their child(ren). The district will respect all reasonable decisions to keep students home in these circumstances, designating absences "excused" if the parent communicates their decision to the appropriate school.
Yes! Here's how:
- Log in to Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
- Click the user/profile icon.
- Select Settings or Personal Settings.
- Choose Contact Preferences (or Notification Settings). This allows you to check/uncheck boxes next to your phone numbers and email.
- Click Save.
Depending on conditions, the district may:
- Hold a normal school day
- Delay the start of the school day by two hours
- Conduct an early release
- Close for the entire day
BHM Schools values in-person education, and does not facilitate e-learning days for weather or other emergency closures.
