School Closure Resources

Transportation Considerations 

NCSD’s Transportation Department prioritizes safety at all times, and inclement weather conditions can make servicing all school bus routes difficult. During snow/ice conditions, NCSD does not utilize snow routes, which can place students in potentially unsafe situations on unfamiliar streets.  

Therefore, if weather conditions make operating our bus route network unfeasible, NCSD will likely close all district schools. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, so there may be situations when conditions allow schools to remain open, but specific stops or routes are rendered inaccessible. In these rare instances, NCSD's Transportation Department will send an automated ParentSquare message to impacted school communities.  

School Closure/Delay Considerations

Any decision to close schools or alter the daily schedule due to weather or other circumstances is made with careful consideration of the impacts to students, families, and staff members. Here are some of the factors NCSD balances when making decisions:

1. The impact on student/staff safety.
2. ​Whether there is adequate time to inform families, particularly those of early-starting elementary students.  
3. Hourly forecasted conditions, as bus transportation windows serve several schools over a span of multiple hours. For example, a forecast justifying closing schools at 2:00 p.m. requires some students to begin boarding buses at 11a.m., which requires recalling drivers to report at 9:30 a.m.
4. Weather conditions districtwide. NCSD has 32 schools across more than 40 square miles, and winter weather conditions can vary across the district.
5. Road, sidewalk and parking lot conditions districtwide.
6. Availability of school resources, such as uninterrupted electricity, food deliveries, stable heating, etc.
7. Advice from municipal authorities

Inclement Weather Definitions 

School Closure:

When schools are closed for the day due to an unforeseen emergency, such as weather. The school building will not be used for daycare, evening events, classes, or activities. The term does not apply to days where schools are not in session for pre-planned reasons (holidays, conferences, etc.).

Two-Hour Delay:

Schools will open two hours late. Buses will operate as close to two hours behind schedule as road conditions allow.

***If NCSD declares a two-hour late start on a Wednesday, bus service for middle schools will run ONE HOUR behind the regular late-start schedule. For example, if your middle school student's pick-up time on a late-start Wednesday is 9:30 a.m., their pick-up time on a 2-hour-delay late-start Wednesday would be 10:30 a.m. ***  THIS ONLY APPLIES TO NCSD MIDDLE SCHOOLS

When there is a two-hour delay:

• Daycare services are CANCELED
• Elementary schools begin two hours after normal start times (regular 7:45 start moves to 9:45; regular 8:30 start moves to 10:30).

• Middle schools will start at 11:30 a.m., including Wednesdays.

• Sabin Schellenberg Professional Technical Center classes begin at 12:25 p.m.
• High schools start two hours late, starting with the second period of the day. Regular bell schedules for following periods.
• ​Staff members should report two hours later than regularly scheduled.

​Early Release:

When schools must close early, revised transportation schedules are arranged and communicated to families. All activities, including childcare, are canceled.