Given the time of year, I would like to review the procedures used in (a) canceling school, (b) delaying the opening of school, and (c) sending students home early because of severe weather conditions or other emergency situations.
A. CANCELING SCHOOL – During bad weather, I am in direct contact with our Director of Buildings and Grounds, the Public Works Department, and the Police Department about the conditions of roads and access to the schools. If the roads are judged to be unsafe for bus travel, I will make the decision to cancel school. I will then notify the radio and TV stations below who will broadcast this information. I will also send out an automated message from the school district’s emergency notification system and post the cancelation on the web site. Additionally, you can check with your preferred TV Station to sign up for text alerts.
Radio Station
WBZ 1030 AM
WBUR 90.9 FM
WRKO 680 AM
Television Station
CH 4
CH 5
CH 7
Verizon CH 31 (Hopkinton Educational Access)
Comcast CH 96 (Hopkinton Educational Access)
CH 25 (Fox)
Web Site/Alerts
www.hopkinton.k12.ma.us
E-Alert District Notification
Automated Phone Call
PLEASE DO NOT call the Police or Fire Department on bad weather days. They need their lines to be open for emergencies.
B. DELAYED OPENING – Rather than close school for a whole day due to short-term weather situations, there may be days when the beginning of school will be delayed one or two hours. When the opening of school is delayed, the radio and TV stations above will be notified and told “delayed opening – one hour (or two hours), Hopkinton.” During delayed openings, school will start one or two hours later. Bus pickup, therefore, will also occur one or two hours later. For example, if your child is normally picked up at 8:35 a.m., during a one hour delayed opening, he/she will be picked up at 9:35 a.m. Lunch will be available, and student dismissals will be at the regularly scheduled times.
C. EMERGENCY DISMISSAL – If it is necessary to dismiss schools prior to regular times, announcements will be made over the radio and TV stations normally used for school cancellation and our web site. In addition, parents will receive an automated message from the school district’s emergency notification system. It is very unlikely we will dismiss early. It is difficult to assure there will be adult supervision at home. During these worsening weather situations, however, afternoon kindergarten and preschool are likely to be cancelled.
In any case, now would be a good time to review with your child, your friends, and neighbors where your child should go if you cannot be home. Your child’s safety is our greatest concern. With your cooperation, we can keep inconveniences to a minimum. Even if a decision is made to have school, as a parent/guardian you can always decide to keep your child home if you do not feel that road conditions are safe.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Cathy MacLeod, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools