School Closings/Delays

School Delay or Cancellation

 

The process of determining delays or cancellation of school starts at about 4:30 a.m.  It involves many people and community agencies.   It is not a unilateral decision made by only the Superintendent of Schools.  We are always going to try and be in school when students and staff can safely get to school.  There are many factors that go into the decision including:

  1. Emergency Management in Decatur County issues the county’s emergency status.  This would include a status of yellow, orange, or red.  If there is a red status then the decision is no un-necessary travel.  School will be closed.

  2. What the county highway has been able to do with clearing the county roads.  We work closely with them.

  3. What the city street department has been able to do with clearing the city streets and making intersections safe.  We also work very closely with them.

  4. What Bruce Copple (School SRO), Tim Kane (Director of Maintenance for GCS), and Travis Scudder (Director of Transportation for GCS) along with the Superintendent decide after we have driven the roads.  Our worst roads are driven between 4:30 a.m. and 5:45 a.m. to get the best information we can get to make an informed decision.

  5. What the weather forecast says for the day involving new snow or temperatures is very important.  You have to project at least 8 hours ahead of your decision.

  6. How much ice is on the roads?   Ice is much harder to deal with than just snow.

  7. How many students will we not be able to pick up?

  8. Can we get the students home in the evening?

  9. Is drifting snow a concern?  We have to be aware of all the students that drive to and from school.

  10. What are the other local school systems doing?  I talk to the superintendents from Rushville, Shelbyville, Batesville, South Ripley and sometimes Columbus along with Jarrod Burns from Decatur County.

  11. Once we have made a decision I will get the info to the staff and public ASAP.  The time of notification varies on occasion because things can change quickly.  We have to be a little flexible on those questionable mornings.  The Superintendent will always try to make the call before 6:00 a.m. or the night before when possible.  Information will be available from:

A. School Messenger automatic calling system

B.  WTRE radio

C.  GCS webpage, Twitter, and Facebook

D.  Local Indy TV stations

Two- hour Delay– this will delay the starting time at all schools for two hours.  Bus pick ups will be two hours later than normal pick- ups.

2022-2023 Make- Up Days – In the event schools are closed the following days will be used for make-up:

December 21, 22, and 23 (Christmas Break)
January 16 (Martin Luther King Day) February 20 (Presidents Day)
March 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 (Spring Break)
May 30 and 31 (
Extended School Year)
J
une 1 (Extended School Year)

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