How Do We Make Our Decisions?

Please understand that we make the decision to open or close the schools in bad weather based on a careful analysis of several factors. Some of these factors include: 

• Information on road conditions from our transportation officials and from the police. We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the district may be dangerous. In addition, we must consider that some high school students drive to school.
• Amount of snow and ice accumulated.
• Whether precipitation is continuing.
• Building conditions (such as whether we have electricity and heat).
• Parking lot conditions. Administrators talk to maintenance and custodial staff members who are responsible for clearing and treating school sidewalks and doorways. In addition, private contractors are sometimes responsible for clearing school parking lots.  Their schedules and availability must also be considered.
• Temperature and wind chill. Please remember that some of our students walk to school and some must wait outside for the bus.
• Weather predictions. We prefer to not make our decision based on weather predictions, which are not always accurate. However, sometimes this is unavoidable.
• What other school districts are doing. We also share information with other local districts and check whether they are opening or closing.

Who Makes The Decision?

The Superintendent of Schools, is responsible for the final decision, which is based on the above factors and recommendations from other district administrators.

How Is The Public Notified?

Tune to television channels listed below for up-to-date information on school closings. You can also check the New Glarus School district web site www.ngsd.k12.wi.us  for information. We will also be notifying all district parents and staff through our computerized phone message system; School Messenger.   Please do not call the schools unless it is an emergency.

Television Channels:
3-WISC
15-WMTV
27-WKOW

Radio Stations: 
FM-93.7            FM-105.5          AM-1260
FM-102.1          FM-98.1            AM-1310
FM-92.1            FM-94.1            AM-1070
FM-101.5          FM-106.1          AM-1480
FM-104.1          FM-96.3            FM-94.9

When Is The Decision Made?

We attempt to make the decision by 6:00 AM or earlier so we can notify radio and TV stations and post the decision on local cable and on our Web site. If we wait longer to announce a closing, it would make it very difficult for families and school personnel to change their morning routines.  We will send the “Student Messenger” message via the telephone as soon as possible.

Will We Close School If Conditions Worsen?

Keep in mind that, even if weather conditions worsen, we cannot reverse our decision in the morning without endangering students. Once we make the decision to open schools, many parents rely on that decision and leave for work. If we then send students right back home, many will return to unsupervised bus stops and empty homes.

Although we do our absolute best in this process, we know that often no perfect decision exists. If you do not feel as though it is safe for your child to attend school, use your best judgment on whether he or she should attend. Also, discourage teenagers from driving in bad conditions and offer them alternatives if weather conditions worsen.

We hope this explanation helps everyone understand the process that our district staff uses to make the best possible decision for our students.

School Delays:
1 Hour Delay - Routes will start one hour later than scheduled
I.e. If you are picked up at 7:15 am regularly, you will be picked up at 8:15 am
2 Hour Delay - Routes will start two hours later than scheduled
I.e. If you are picked up at 7:15 am regularly, you will be picked up at 9:15 am  

Early Release times are:
Mondays
Grade School Dismissal 1:15 pm - Busses Leave 1:25 pm
Middle/High School Dismissal 1:30 pm - Busses Leave 1:35 pm
Fridays
Grade School Dismissal 12:00 pm - Busses Leave 12:10 pm
Middle/High School Dismissal 12:15 pm - Busses Leave 12:20 pm  

School Hour for the following school buildings are:
8:00 am until 3:20 pm for the Grade School - Busses Leave 3:25pm
8:00 am until 3:30 pm for the Middle/High School - Busses Leave 3:35pm