Inclement Weather and Emergency Early Dismissal & Closings
How is the decision to close schools made?
The Superintendent and the Executive Director of Transportation and School Safety begin monitoring weather forecasts several days in advance of a weather event. If the decision to close or delay opening is not able to be made the evening before the inclement weather arrives, the Superintendent, the Executive Director of Transportation and School Safety, and other designated personnel will begin checking road conditions between 2:00 AM and 2:30 AM in the morning. Each section of the county has to be checked since weather conditions can vary greatly between the eastern and western areas. Administrators will also consult with local law enforcement, other school divisions, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and county emergency management services prior to making a decision.
The Superintendent may opt to delay the opening of school to allow for additional time to verify weather forecasts, or to allow weather conditions and visibility to improve. If conditions are not safe for student travel, the Superintendent will opt to close school.
How can my family find out if there is a delay or closing?
In the event of a closing, delay, or early dismissal once school is in session, the division will notify major radio and television stations. Parents and Guardians will also be notified by phone, email and/or text notifications through the division's mass notification platform, Messages XR.
Messages XR receives student emergency contact information directly from PowerSchool, therefore, it is very important that student contact information is up-to-date so that families will receive emergency notifications.
Contact your child's school directly if you need to verify or update any information or to report issues with receiving notifications.
Emergency Early Dismissal FAQs
- Have a plan. There will be times when weather or other emergency situations such as loss of water or electricity, will result in an early closing. Parents need to develop a plan for the care of their children if there is a need for the division to dismiss students early.
When school closes, especially after the school day has begun, children need to know specifically where they are to go and what they are to do. Parents need to be very clear in instructing their child what to do during an emergency early dismissal, such as, go to a grandparent's or a trusted neighbor's home. Arrangements for responsible adults to meet children at the bus stop should be in place prior to an emergency closing. Teachers will also need to be made aware of the need to place children on different buses if necessary.
- How quickly will schools dismiss in an emergency situation? When the decision is made to close early, it takes approximately one and a half hours for the buses to be in place and ready to leave. Bus drivers must be located and notified to report to work. Dismissal times are staggered to allow for double-run buses to return for the second pick-up. Please keep in mind that dismissal times are estimates. During bad weather buses move slowly and may take awhile to arrive home.
Contact your child's school directly if you have any questions about an emergency early dismissal.
Inclement Weather & Emergency Closing Notifications
OCPS utilizes a mass communications platform called Messages XR which allows the division to send emails, texts, voice calls, and website alerts all from one platform. By streamlining our communications process, we are able to communicate with families and staff more efficiently and effectively. Learn more here.