Precautionary Steps for Winter Weather

With the potential for some winter weather later this week, Wabash City wants to remind our students and families to take some steps to ensure safe winter travel to and from school.  Student safety is our number one priority and we want to work with families to ensure our students are safe.  If there is a safety concern, please contact your child’s school and we can work through the issue.  We are more than willing to pick up a kid who is unable to walk due to the weather conditions.  With that being said, it is winter in Indiana and we will be holding school in the snow and in the cold.  Please take the following steps to be prepared for the winter weather season:

1)   Plan for delays/cancellations:  We understand that childcare is an issue and we believe it is always best to be in school; however, weather conditions sometimes warrant delays or cancellations.  We will try to make the call as soon as we possibly can but at times weather conditions can worsen or improve in the matter of minutes.  We realize this is a burden on our families of young children but we will always err on the side of safety. 

2)   Communication:  It is important to know where you can receive information on delays/cancellations.  The most up to date information will be passed along via Twitter @WCS_SUPT.  We will also send out a school message within 5 to 10 minutes of Twitter.  However, we will also use traditional ways such as radio stations 105.9 & 95.9 and TV stations 15 & 21 (Ft. Wayne) & Indy stations 8 & 13. 

a.     If you have additional questions, again, the quickest way is via Twitter.  You may also contact your child’s school; however, if weather conditions prevent office staff from coming in, you may have to just leave a message or call the central office at 563-2151. 

b.     Again, if you have concerns about your child’s safety, err on the side of caution.  Wabash City wants to work with our families.  If you child is a walker and there is a concern about temperature or sidewalks being clean, contact the school.  If we are able to provide transportation, we will work with families to ensure students are safe. 

3)   Dress for the weather: This is important for all students, but especially our walkers.  Please dress for the weather.  If your child does not have gloves, coat and hat, please contact the school.  We will find a way to ensure all students have the necessary winter clothes.

4)   Take your time:  This is especially true for our student drivers.  If weather creates a potential for less than perfect street conditions, prepare to leave earlier to clean windows and drive slower to school. 

For road conditions, Wabash City will drive the streets within the district before making a decision.  The Wabash City Street Department does an excellent job in clearing the streets.  Sometimes delays  provide more time for drivers and the street department.  There is no magic number of inches that will guarantee a delay or cancellation. 

For cold weather conditions, Wabash City will use the National Weather Service Windchill Chart in determining delays and cancellations due to cold.  Wabash City will delay when the weather conditions show that frostbite may occur to skin exposed to the elements for 30 minutes or less.  Although we will delay at 30 minutes, we may still hold school.