Policy 2500-2

Emergencies

Weather Emergencies — Athletics and Activities

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

  

The following steps will be followed in determining student athletic and activity participation during weather emergencies.  The procedures cover practices, rehearsals, meetings, performances and competitions.

1. When bad weather develops while school is in session
   • The Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs and Director of Operations will confer on the deterioration of weather conditions, its impact on facilities and student safety and provide the timeline of when schools may conduct practices, rehearsals, meetings, performances and/or competitions.
   • If conditions appear to be dangerous at any time, the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs and Director of Operations will make a decision to cancel all practices, rehearsals, meetings, performances and competitions after school and communicate with the District Director of Athletics/Activities and the Director of Communications, whether this be before school dismissal or anytime during the evening, who will communicate with buildings, parents and the community.
   • In the event of groups/teams traveling, Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs and Director of Operations will confer with other schools and the District Director of Athletics/Student Activities to determine conditions and whether or not groups will travel out of town and any coordination for travel.
   • If a group is to travel to competition on a Saturday, the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs and Director of Operations will plan with the District Director of Athletics/Student Activities on Friday to determine a timeline for making a decision on travel and performance.  The District Director of Athletics/Student Activities will coordinate with other high schools and communicate those plans with coaches/ sponsors/directors.
2. When a District or School Closure Day is called before school begins, practices, rehearsals, meetings, performances and competitions will not be held and athletic and activity travel will not be allowed.
3. When multiple school days are identified as a School Closure Day, the following process will go into effect to determine if and which practices, rehearsals, meetings, performances and/or competitions can occur.
   • The Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs and Director of Operations will confer on the improvement of weather conditions and ability to clean parking lots to determine when schools may conduct practices, rehearsals, meetings, performances and/or competitions.
   • When practice can occur, a timeframe will be designated and communicated to the District Director of Athletics/Activities and the Director of Communications.
   • The District Director of Athletics/Activities will communicate with the building principal or designee to provide notification of the designated timeframe with any additional parameters.
   • The Director of Operations will ensure communication of the plan with the Director responsible for notification of custodial staff and the staff responsible for parking lot snow removal.
   • The principal may decide whether to allow practices during an established timeframe.
   • In the event of groups/teams traveling, school administrative designee will confer with other schools and the District Director of Athletics/Student Activities to determine conditions and whether or not groups will travel out of town.  All schools headed in the same direction will confer and agree to a common decision on whether to travel, postpone or cancel.
4. State/District Competitions
   1. Exceptions to these guidelines may be granted by direction from Lincoln Public Schools Executive Committee members for State/District Competitions.