inclement weather procedure

Weather forecasting is not an exact science. Weather patterns can change quickly. Weather systems can speed up or slow down, meaning they do not arrive as forecasted. The decision to cancel or delay school is based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, wind speed, amount of rain, chances for tornadoes, road conditions, and concern over power outages.

In the days leading up to an anticipated weather event, district personnel participate in conference calls held by the National Weather Service, multiple times a day and often at night. Sometimes the weather forecast is not definitive enough to make a decision on school closing the night before. That means staff members spend their evenings and nights watching the forecast. They are often up early the next morning driving the roads around the county looking for dangerous conditions for both car drivers and bus drivers. This can lead to a delay in communicating a school closing until the morning of a cancellation.

As best as possible, the District will attempt to decide on school closures or delayed openings by 6:00 pm the day before.

Colquitt County covers more than 550 square miles. Road conditions can vary greatly in various parts of the county. The northern part can be impassable, while the southern part might not have any precipitation at all. We cannot assume that, because roads are good in one neighborhood, all roads throughout the county are safe. This is one reason district personnel drive the roads themselves. We also rely on staff members and bus drivers to communicate road conditions in their neighborhoods, as well as officers from the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office, the Moultrie Police Department, and other city and county departments. This shared information is factored into the decision-making process. Colquitt County school buses travel more than 8,500 miles a day, transporting students. Buses must be able to travel safely, and that is a factor in determining weather closures or delays.

Extreme cold is rare in Georgia, although we do occasionally see temperatures below freezing. Those low temperatures can affect our diesel-engine school buses. That is why on mornings where the temperature is forecasted to be below freezing, our bus drivers are in their buses well before dawn to make sure they crank. School buildings can also be susceptible to frozen pipes and heating malfunctions, especially in our older facilities. However, cold temperatures are not, by themselves, a reason to cancel school. When school is held on a cold day, we encourage parents and students to dress appropriately in layers.

Occasionally, weather events may result in schools being closed for multiple days. Because most families now have Internet access, students can continue to learn online from home on the rare occasions when schools are closed for an extended period. If the Remote Learning Plan has to be activated, the school district will notify parents using its Infinite Campus Messenger tools and Parent Portal as well as SchoolNow parent app. For more information about Remote Learning Plans visit https://www.colquitt.k12.ga.us/departments/instructional-technology

Inclement weather response plans are in place to dismiss and transport students during the school day, if bad weather occurs after the school day has begun. Depending on the time of day and weather event, a plan will be shared for early dismissal taking into consideration transportation needs. Every student should have an Emergency Notification contact in Infinite Campus so that this plan can be communicated quickly.

School closures/delays will always be posted on the school district social media pages, website, and in the SchoolNow parent app as soon as the decision has been made. The district also utilizes its mass communication notification system (SchoolNow and Infinite Campus Messenger) to alert parents and students about a delay or closing. Parents are responsible for making sure their contact information is up-to-date in Infinite Campus so they can receive alerts about school closings and delays. Local news outlets will also be notified when a school closure or delay is announced.

FIRST NOTICE of School Closures/Delays etc.:

Website: www.colquitt.k12.ga.us
Social Media: All official social media sites for the district and each school.
Mass Communication Tools: SchoolNow and Infinite Campus Messaging
Media: Moultrie Observer, WALB, Fox31, WSST55/WSWG 44, WCTV, Cruisin 94

Partner Organizations: Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Colquitt Regional Medical Center, Southern Regional Technical College, Coastal Plains RESA, Colquitt County Government, City of Moultrie, HES, ESS, Chamber of Commerce

Weather forecasting is not an exact science. In fact, forecasts are often wrong. What is forecasted for a neighboring county may not affect our district or vice versa.

Closing or delaying the start of school is not an easy decision as it disrupts the instructional process for students and teachers. We are also a food insecure district so the closing of schools leaves many without access to appropriate meals.

Every weather system is different. Unfortunately, the weather does not consider convenience into when it will move across Colquitt County. Weather forecasts do not always produce a specific, predictable outcome. District personnel begin monitoring the weather well before an anticipated weather event is scheduled to arrive, not just the night prior. The ultimate concern is the safety of the students and staff, and sometimes that decision cannot be made until the morning of. The District will communicate often leading up to a weather event using the Infinite Campus Messengers tools and SchoolNow messenger tools.  When possible, a decision will be communicated by 6:00pm the night before, however that is not always possible.