EMERGENCY DELAYS, EARLY DISMISSALS & CANCELLATIONS
Due to Inclement Weather

The District must make one decision that is most appropriate for more than 15,000 students across four communities. We recognize that this decision may not always fit with individual circumstances. Therefore, we support our parents in making the decision that is best for their child on inclement days when school has not been delayed, released early, or cancelled due to weather.

For information on emergency delays, early dismissals and cancellations, tune into major television and radio stations.  If you hear conflicting reports on the media, please contact the Administration Service Center at 336‑5000 so a correction can be made.

Schools & Programs District-wide:

• Decisions will be made by a team from the district Administration Service and Operations centers.
• The primary consideration in making decisions will be based on the health and safety of students.
• Before start of day - Decisions made before the start of day will be made by 5:45 a.m. and communicated through the news media.  All administrative, secretarial, custodial and maintenance employees will report to their buildings as usual, unless otherwise notified.  Instructional staff members, paraeducators and food service employees will not report to work.
• After start of day - Decisions after the start of the day will be made by approximately 10 a.m. and communicated through calls directly to the schools and, again, through the news media.
• In some cases, decisions may be made to conduct classes, but not provide school district transportation for students in certain areas.

One or More Schools, But Not Districtwide:

• Before start of day - All efforts will be made to notify students and parents before the scheduled start time.
• After start of day - All efforts will be made to notify parents as soon as possible.
• All employees, except co-op employees, will report for duty at their regular hours.

Athletic Events:

• When district schools are closed due to inclement weather, specified guidelines will be followed by the district director and principal of the involved school for both home and away contests.
• Home contests - If opponents are unable to travel, attempts will be made to re-schedule.  If opponents are able to travel, the feasibility of playing a contest will be determined.
• Away contests - If district buses are operating, the contest will be played.  If district buses are not operating, attempts will be made to re-schedule contests out of the Quad-Cities and to use other means of transportation for contests that are determined feasible in the Quad-Cities.

Stepping Stones and Pathways After-School Programs:

• When there is a district-wide cancellation of classes and activities either before the start of day or after the start of day, all Stepping Stones and Pathways After-School programs will be cancelled.
• If DCSD schools are not closed, but weather conditions develop later in the day, the Coordinator of Community Education will consult with Project Managers, First Student, current weather reports, and appropriate Community Site Facilitators. Any recommendation to cancel programs will be made to the Superintendent of Schools.
• Every effort will be made to determine cancellations by 12:00 p.m. followed by announcements to the news media. Every effort will be made to notify parents and staff.