How do we make our decision?
When determining what action should be taken, we look at the current road and weather conditions, temperature and wind chill, and the day’s forecast. We also consult with our maintenance crew, local municipalities, and Monark Transportation, all of whom travel the roads in the district to assess their safety. In addition, we communicate with other local districts who are also impacted by weather systems.
It is important to note that the timing of weather-related events; the ability of buses, cars, and students who walk to school to travel safely; as well as the operable condition of our buildings all play a role in our decision-making. We ask that you keep in mind that given our district’s geography, weather can vary drastically across our 11 municipalities.
We aim to communicate delays and cancellations before 6:00 a.m. and, whenever possible, the night before. We strive to make the best possible decisions in the timeframe we have provided; however, unexpected winter weather issues may occur. These occasions may necessitate a last-minute or unexpected decision.
Please be aware, school delays or cancellations also can occur for other unexpected reasons, such as an area water main break, power outage, or other significant event.
Where can I find delay and cancellation information?
Families will receive texts, phone calls, and/or emails through our
ParentSquare alert system as a first line of communication. It is important to be sure that your contact information is current. If your contact information needs to be updated, submit your updated information through the
PowerSchool demographic form.
In addition, delay and closure information can be found in the following locations:
Two-Hour Delay Information
Report Times
Middle & High School: 10:00 AM
Elementary Schools: 10:45 AM
Breakfast
Breakfast is not served on 2-hour delay days.
Parkway and/or Quaker Valley 2-Hour Delay
Should Parkway West CTC or Quaker Valley have a 2-hour delay, Quaker Valley students do not attend Parkway but come later to the high school.
Parkway students with personal transportation must be at the building by 11:20 for their period 4 class. They will be placed in a study hall during period 3, which comes after period 4 on the two-hour delay schedule.
Parkway students without personal transportation should ride their assigned morning bus (this is different from the AM Parkway bus) and will be placed in study halls during periods when they don't have classes. The QV transportation department should have provided you with the appropriate busing information at the beginning of the school year. If you did not receive this information, please contact Monark Student Transportation at 724-318-8535.
School Closing Information
School closings are effective for one day. If the schools are to remain closed for a second day, another announcement will be posted.
After-School and Evening Activities
When schools are closed, all after-school and evening activities, sports, and events are also canceled unless posted otherwise.
Flexible Instructional Days
A Flexible Instructional Day (FID) is used as an alternative approach to delivering instruction if a circumstance arises that prevents instruction in the customary manner. FID can be used for up to five (5) days per school year in place of a school day that has been cancelled because of inclement weather or another emergency situation. These days will be utilized only when all of the weather/emergency days built into the District calendar have been used.
On a FID, students will complete learning activities and assignments provided by their teachers at home on the day that otherwise would have been cancelled. Students are to receive appropriate remote lessons and/or activities that can be completed independently outside of school.
Students and parents/guardians will be informed of a FID through the District's notification systems in the same way that school closings and delays are announced. On a FID, students will be directed to complete asynchronous lessons from home and submit them to their teacher on the day of the FID. When a FID occurs, students in grades K-12 will be directed to refer to their teacher’s Schoology course to access their FID assignments.
Local Weather Information