Chardon Schools

December 4, 2014 by Staff Report

Chardon Schools Snow Day or Late Start Procedures

Student safety is always top priority in Chardon Schools, so the decision to call off school due to inclement weather begins at approximately 3:30 a.m. and includes analysis of the following information: weather and radar reports and personal observation, input from local law enforcement and road crews, input from district maintenance and snow removal staff, input and discussions with superintendents from neighboring districts and, when necessary, school personnel drive the roads to determine the condition.

When all of the information is gathered, the superintendent, business manager and transportation supervisor jointly make the decision to close the schools or keep them open for students. The objective is to make the decision no later than 5:45 a.m. as school buses are beginning to depart for their morning runs at that time. However, it may be necessary where the decision has to be made after that time. Weather conditions can change abruptly, for better or for worse, but the district’s intent is to determine that it is safe for students and staff to attend school.

The district also has a plan to use a delayed start rather than canceling school should weather conditions allow for this option. In order to ensure greater safety during a delayed start, the opening of schools will be delayed two hours.

The following is information concerning how the delayed opening will be implemented and a school-specific schedule:

Once the decision has been made to close schools or delay the opening, the superintendent will activate the Blackboard Communication System and update via Twitter @chardonsupt and @ChardonSchools, the district website and local television stations.

It is strongly suggested that parents subscribe to the text/email notification systems now offered by the major Cleveland television stations in order to receive school closing information as soon as it is entered into the system. All parents will receive an automated phone call indicating that school has either been cancelled or will open using a delayed start of two hours.

Under a delayed start, all buses will arrive at their morning stop locations exactly two hours later than normal schedule within the constraints of weather and road conditions. Students, including non-public school students that receive transportation through Chardon Schools, should plan to arrive at their assigned stops approximately 10 minutes prior to that time.

All schools will open for operations exactly two hours later than their normal schedule. Students that walk to school, drive or receive rides to school should plan on arriving two hours later unless directed otherwise for special programs.

All schools will offer a lunch program with options that meet school nutrition standards. All schools will dismiss at the usual time. There will be no transportation to/from Auburn Career Center for morning classes. These students should plan to arrive at CHS for their afternoon classes following the modified schedule for that day. The bus for afternoon Auburn Career Center classes will depart CHS at 11 a.m. Lake Academy and Geauga Academy transportation will depart at 9:40 a.m. There will be no morning preschool class. Afternoon class will report at noon. Latch Key programs at Hambden and Maple will be cancelled for that day.

Again, safety is the highest priority and the district strives to make the best possible decision with the information available at the time. Parents can always choose to keep their children home, if they truly feel there is a weather-related safety risk. These absences will be recorded as excused, with makeup work provided to the student, if the superintendent designates the day as a severe weather day in the school district.

Box Tops for Education

Please remember to save Box Tops and Campbell Soup UPC labels. The five or ten labels lying around the house really are worth sending in with one’s child.

Please put the labels in a Ziploc bag with the child’s teacher’s name on it or send it to the school office.

Check out the websites www.boxtopforeducation.com and www.labelsforeducation.com for more information on how one can help earn more money for Chardon Schools.