Superintendents advise on schedules for coming storm season

Written by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 08:33

The early flurries that dusted the area in snow in mid-October have school officials already preparing for weather delays and school closings during the storm season.

The superintendents of schools for the Amity region have together released an advisory on school schedules during the upcoming winter season.

Superintendents Tim Connellan for Bethany, Tim James for Orange, Gaeton Stella for Woodbridge and John Brady for Amity stated in a letter that Area superintendents of schools “must ensure that each district meets the state mandated number of school days and number of instructional hours in a safe and secure manner.”

The Bethany, Orange, Woodbridge and Amity (BOWA) school districts will continue to participate in a regional school transportation collaborative. This arrangement allows elementary schools to dismiss at similar times and for the Orange and Bethany Middle Schools to open and dismiss at the same time in coordination with Amity Regional High School.

When one BOWA school district closes, delays the opening of school, or dismisses early due to inclement weather, all BOWA school districts will also close, delay, or dismiss early. A delayed opening for elementary, middle and high school will be two hours. The BOWA superintendents try to make a decision to close or delay the opening of school by 5:30 a.m. based upon what is expected to happen in the next two to 12 hours.

They ask that residents stay tuned when a delay has been announced since it might turn into a cancellation if weather conditions do not improve. They also advise parents to continue listening to local reports on days of problematic weather to determine if there will be an early dismissal. Radio, television, school bus operators, staff and designated Internet-based sites will be notified immediately, the superintendents said.

Although early dismissals are avoided whenever possible, it may be occasionally necessary to dismiss school early due to the unexpected deterioration of weather conditions. In these situations, an announcement will be issued by 10:30 a.m. Weather related early dismissal for middle school and high school students will be at 11:45 a.m. Bethany and Woodbridge elementary school students will be dismissed at 1:10 p.m. Orange elementary school students will be dismissed at 1 p.m. and the Orange kindergarten will be dismissed at 11 a.m.

The superintendents advise that families have an emergency back-up plan in place in the event of an early dismissal.

“Please make sure the children understand where they should go in the event of an early dismissal from school,” the superintendents said in the letter. “Child care arrangements at home or on the same bus route should be made in advance of the early dismissal day since it will be impossible for the school staff to personally contact each parent.”

As alternate drop-off and pick-up procedures vary from school to school, parents should follow the established procedure, they added.

When school is canceled, unless otherwise indicated, all activities and meetings are also canceled and the school buildings will be closed.

“The decision to delay, close school, or dismiss early is often a difficult one,” the superintendents said. “During inclement weather when an administrative decision to open school has been made, this is not meant to preclude a family’s choice to keep their children home. Families are encouraged to exercise their own judgment in such cases.”

For more information, visit the school district Web site, amityregion5.org.