Weather-Related Decisions for WBCSD
Dear Parents/Guardians:
As you know, the inclement weather season is here. Please prepare by noting the following West Branch Community School District inclement weather practices. When snow, ice, or cold causes hazardous road and travel conditions, our schools may open late, end early, or even close for the entire day. Decisions are made based on regional and local conditions and updated weather forecasts to ensure the safety of all students, staff, and residents. As you know, we go to school on very cold days.
As superintendent, I consult multiple weather stations, converse with regional superintendents, communicate with regional and local road crews and our transportation director and utilize the National Weather Service’s approved wind chill charts when making weather-related decisions. The safety of our students and staff is always the top priority. Please know that I attempt to reach a decision as early as possible amid changing conditions, and strive to get the word out between 5:00 a.m. and 5:45 a.m. There are times when I can make the decision the night before, but only if the evidence indicates the situation and decision would not change.
Once a decision is made, we attempt to communicate in multiple ways:
- District: All Call / Email System
- TV: KCRG, KWQC, KGAN, KWWL
- Radio: KCRG, KCCK, KHAW, KDAT, KRNA, KZIA, KGYM, KCJJ
Additional Weather / Emergency Information
Building Access: The WBCSD’s buildings are closed to the public when a school day has been cancelled. When a “late start” is required, all morning (before school) activities are cancelled; including weight room, fine arts activities and morning preschool classes.
Student Attendance on Weather Impacted Days: Upon careful consideration for the facts and input from the sources above, please know that our schools may open when you consider local roads unsafe for travel. If that happens, you have the option of not sending your student/s to school. Students will receive an excused absence. They will not be penalized academically, but are expected to make up all assignments. Please also understand that even in some very cold situations, middle school students will be going outside to meet breakfast, lunch, P.E. and music needs.
Emergency Closures Requires Planning with Your Students: Occasionally, late starts are used to allow traffic to clear or hazardous road conditions to improve before schools can open. When bad weather hits or worsens after school starts, it may be necessary to close schools early. Please prepare for unexpected early closing by updating school files with the names of those authorized to meet your child when you cannot. Preschool and kindergarten students will be returned to the school if no designated individual meets them at the bus stop. Please have a plan so elementary students know what to do if they arrive home before anyone is there to meet them. Middle and high school students also need plans to ensure their safety.
Extra-Curricular Events and Practices: Upon consultation with the District’s Activities Director, school events may be cancelled or delayed if road conditions here or in another school district require this decision. While school cancellation policy does not automatically equate to extra-curricular cancellations, it is our general practice. Upon a review of road and weather conditions, varsity teams (varsity roster students only) may be allowed to practice per superintendent and activity director approval only.
Hard Surface Bus Routes (20-21): We appreciate parents helping us out when gravel roads become dangerous for buses. There will be specific stops along these safety routes where parents can meet the buses. Buses will pause for several minutes at each stop to ensure parents can get their children to the designated stops.
- Bus #13 – Bob Cahill, driver: Begins southeast of Rochester then proceeds to west Rochester, KOA, Springdale and West Branch.
- Bus #1 – Wayne Mertens, driver: Begins northeast of West Branch and proceeds to Cedar Valley south to 280th St. and the north part of West Branch Mobile Village.
- Bus #12: Now divided between Bus #1 and Bus #20.
- Bus #19 – Dave Rozinek, driver: Operates in the northwest area of the district. This route will also include Bickford Dr. and Greenview. The bus will stop at 109 Bickford Dr., 133 Bickford Dr. and 166 Bickford Dr.
- Bus #2 – Tim Crew, driver: Includes the southwest section of the district that includes Herbert Hoover Hwy. to Wildwood and back.
- Bus #4 – Jeff Arp, driver: Covers the area south of I-80, to Downey and back to West Branch.
- Bus # 20 – Bambi Simpson, driver: Covers one stop in Oasis, Greenview Circle, 290th St., Pheasant Run, Oliphant St., south part of West Branch Mobile Village, and one stop on Wapsi Ave.