Emergency Closing Information
Working Together To Ensure All Students Learn and Feel a True Sense of Belonging.
Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union
Emergency Closing Procedure
2009-2010 School Year
In the event that schools need to close due to emergency conditions the following communication network will be activated.
In all cases schools in OSSU will be closed together due to weather conditions. When it’s necessary to close only one school due to non-weather factors only those personnel affected by this decision will be notified using the posting procedures listed below and local telephone tree procedures. In the event that a school is being closed for health related reasons, the decision will be made the day before after consulting with OSSU’s school-based nurses and the Vermont Department of Health. When schools are closed in OSSU due to weather conditions, buses will not be transporting students who attend schools outside of OSSU including the Green Mountain Career and Technical Center. If a school is closed due to health related issues, buses will transport students who attend schools outside of OSSU.
Delayed openings may be used if the forecast is predictable and or if the event that delayed the opening is time limited based on factual information.
It is very rare that students are sent home early especially if road conditions are dangerous. If the decision is to close early, again, the procedures outlined above will be activated.
In the event of deteriorating road conditions in the afternoon or a forecast that suggests poor weather in the evening, the school’s Principal in collaboration with the Superintendent may cancel all after school and athletic events.
Notification Procedures
Weather Conditions: The Superintendent makes the decision to cancel schools between 5:30 and 6:00AM. This decision is made after consulting with the Bus Transportation Contractor after he has reviewed road conditions with each town’s Road Commissioner earlier in the morning. Additionally, OSSU’s Superintendent speaks to his fellow Superintendents serving the communities of Lamoille North and Lamoille South Supervisory Unions before making the decision. In the event that the Superintendent is not accessible by telephone, OSSU’s Coordinator of Curriculum and Assessment will serve as the Superintendent’s backup. For all emergency closings, the Superintendent will notify the Coordinator of Technology, who will then activate the AlertNow notification system and then the VT Association of Broadcasters who will then post the cancellation on the following television channel and radio stations:
AlertNow will contact everyone in our system by telephone.