Again this year, in addition to the possiblity of closing schools due to inclement weather, we may also use a delayed opening.  In order to ensure greater safety, the opening of schools may be delayed by either one or two hours.
 
Should there be a delayed opening, students will be expected to go to their bus stop or to leave their homes (if they walk to school) one (or two) hours after their regularly scheduled time.  The bus company and crossing guards will know about the delay and will rearrange their schedules accordingly.  In the case of a 2-hour delay, all preschool classes and therapy sessions at the Integrated Pre-schools in the Education Center and Lincoln-Eliot will be canceled for the day.  In the case of 1-hour delay, therapy sessions before 10:00 a.m. will be canceled.
 
In March, 2007 the Connect-ED communicaton system was implemented in the Newton Public Schools.  We will use this system again this year, which will enable us to communicate with you about emergency situations, school events and important issues affecting your child.  In case of school closing or a delayed opening due to the weather, as soon as a decision has been made we will be calling the number(s) designated as your child's emergency number(s) on the Student Contact yellow sheets you received at the beginning of the school year.  Please make sure your child's emergency information is kept up to date at all times.  If this information changes, please notify the main office at your child's school.
 
There may be occasions when a decision can be made the previous evening but normally it will not be made until the early hours of the day in question.  In addition to utilizing the Connect-ED communication system, we will call in "No School/Delayed Opening" announcements to the following radio stations and television channels before 6:00 a.m.:
 
WBZ Radio     1030 AM
WRKO Radio   680 AM
TV Channels   4, 5, 7, 56, and Newton Cable TV
 
You may also log on to www.newton.k12.ma.us or you may call (617) 559-9699 for a pre-recorded message.
 
Please do not call the police or school officials.  This only ties up telephone lines and disrupts attempts to plan for or respond to emergencies.
 
The decision to close or delay the opening of schools is made by the Superintendent of Schools.  This decision is based upon the best information available on street and weather conditions from the Police Department, Public Works Department and the U.S. Weather Bureau at the time the decision must be made, usually before 5:30 a.m.  Weather conditions do change sometimes, for better or for worse, but our intent is to determine that it is reasonably safe for students and staff to attend school.
 
If school is held, but conditions are still bad on any particular street or area of the City, parents should use their own judgment in determining whether or not to send a student to school.
 
If a storm occurs during a school day, school will ordinarily remain in session.  We are advised by the Police Department that once students are in school they are better off remaining there than being released early because of a storm.  The reasons are several:  (1) the City has more time to service major accesses to and from schools prior to dismissal; (2) parents of many younger children may not be home to receive them; and (3) drivers are not as cautious during hours that they expect students to be in school.  However, parents should also make certain that their child knows where to go in the event schools have to be dismissed early.  Should an early dismissal be necessary, we will utilize the Connect-ED communication system and will also notify the referenced radio/television stations, the website, and the dedicated emergency telephone line.
 
The cooperation of the general public and the parents of Newton school children in following the above procedures would be greatly appreciated.  The safety of the children will, of course, always be our prime consideration.