Policy 2500-1

Emergencies

Weather Emergencies

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board: 
Last Revision: 
Original publish date: 04/22/2014
Related policies & regulations:  2410
Legal references:  

  

The following procedures will be followed in closing schools during severe weather situations:

1. The Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs will consult with the Director of Operations, Director of Transportation and Lancaster County Emergency Management officials as well as the civil defense office and relay all information to the Superintendent of Schools.
2. The Superintendent will notify the Director of Communications or designee of a decision to close schools.  He/she will notify the news media and initiate the Lincoln Public Schools messaging systems to notify families and staff.  The Director of Communications may direct that announcement of the school cancellation to be included in additional communications channels.
3. Whenever possible, news media will be contacted before 9 p.m. and prior to 6 a.m. so school closing information may be announced at normal broadcast times.  Ideally, a decision to close schools will be made no later than 6 a.m.
4. In the event the Superintendent is out of the city, he/she will delegate the authority to declare a weather emergency to one of the associate superintendents.
5. When it is determined that schools will be closed as a result of inclement weather, the Superintendent will indicate if the closure is a School Closure Day or a District Closure Day.  The district website will contain information concerning employees’ work responsibilities on school and district closure days.