School Procedures for Potential Closures/Late Starts

Dear Orting Students, Families and Staff:

With the winter months rapidly approaching, it’s a good time to share important information about school closures, and other necessary precautions, pertaining to severe weather conditions.

Although various types of emergencies may cause the temporary closing of a given school any time of the year, the winter months with the potential of ice, snow and extreme cold always carry the increased likelihood of such closures.

A majority of our students live on hills which receive considerably more snow and ice than most areas in town. Because of the existence of these increased risks, please know we will always base our decisions on whether to modify schedules, or actually close school, on the safety of our students and staff.

These decisions are not always easy, and very much complicated by our varied elevations and unpredictable weather patterns. None the less, we will try our best to make all late start or snow closure decisions by 6:00 a.m. and specific follow-up announcements soon as possible thereafter.

When snow fall is heavy, but not heavy enough to cause school closure, road conditions may make it impossible for our bus schedules to operate on time. Please anticipate buses running two hours late when roads are icy or covered with snow.

In the event it becomes necessary to close school for an entire day due to heavy snow or other emergency conditions, announcements of the closure can be found at www.schoolreport.org and will be broadcast over local radio and television stations as well as a phone message sent home from the school district.

In addition, closings and delays are posted on our web site at www.orting.wednet.edu. Our opening and closing decisions are made collaboratively with surrounding districts and the transportation departments. We will do our best to make our decisions in a timely manner.

Let’s hope we won’t need to use any of these systems!

Sincerely,

Michelle Curry, Superintendent