The safety and well-being of students and staff is our top priority and the decision to close, delay, or release school is no simple matter. Before deciding to modify the school day due to extreme weather conditions, the Superintendent consults with a variety of experts both inside and outside of the District. Our commitment is to keep students, families, and staff safe, and to keep the community informed of weather-related school closings, delays, and cancellations in a timely manner.

The District must make one decision that is appropriate for more than 3,100 students. We recognize that this decision may not always fit with individual circumstances. Therefore, we support parents/guardians in making the best decision for their families.  Parents/guardians may choose to keep their children at home if they are concerned about their child’s safety due to weather conditions.  In this event, they must notify the school and the absence will be recorded as excused.

Please note that we continually monitor the forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) in order to make the best decision for students, staff, and families in a timely manner. The NWS’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) wind chill index chart is utilized in the District’s decision-making process. The NOAA wind chill index chart can be found under Appendix A of these guidelines.

Announcements of District weather-related decisions are communicated through local media outlets (television, radio) and multiple District communication platforms.  Notification will be sent directly to families by phone, text, and email through the District’s Finalsite Mass Notification system. To receive notification through the District’s Finalsite Mass Notification system, please ensure your contact information (e-mail and phone) is accurate in PowerSchool. Announcements are also posted on Clear Creek Amana's social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), individual school websites, and the District website. In addition, the District utilizes the official Clear Creek Amana mobile app to share weather-related notifications.

Please note, high school activity and athletic event decisions are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee. Champions before and after school programs follow the same weather-related closing, late starts, and early dismissals as the school district.

Appendix A

Delaying the start of school due to weather conditions that are expected to improve throughout the school day. School will be delayed if the forecast for 9:30 a.m. the following morning shows frostbite times of 30 minutes or less (see Appendix A). Decisions and notifications regarding cancellation will be made by 5:30 a.m. that morning before a cancellation.

When a late start is deemed necessary:

• Late start times may vary depending on the weather conditions.

• Breakfast will not be served at school.

• In the event of a late start on a regularly scheduled early dismissal day (Wednesday), the early dismissal will be canceled and school will follow the regular dismissal times. 

Cancellations include (but are not limited to):

• Morning preschool will be canceled

• The Champions before school programs will be closed for the morning session

• Morning activities will be canceled and no activity buses

Releasing school early due to weather conditions that are expected to worsen throughout the school day.

When an early dismissal is deemed necessary:

• Early dismissal times may vary depending on the weather conditions

• Children normally transported on buses will be returned by bus according to the early dismissal schedule unless other arrangements have been previously made and communicated to the child’s school

• High school activity and athletic event cancellations are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee (Policy 504.07)

• Champions after-school programs will be closed for the afternoon. There is a 30-minute grace period for Champions parents to pick up their child

As a general practice, all after-school and evening activities are canceled unless otherwise noted.
Cancellations include (but are not limited to):

• District-sponsored after-school programs and extra-curricular activities (elementary/middle school)

• Afternoon preschool

• Champions after-school programs will be closed for the afternoon. There is a 30-minute grace period for Champions parents to pick up their child.

• Field trips

• School events (elementary and middle school)

• Family engagement activities (i.e. in-person conferences)

• High school activity and athletic event cancellations are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee (504.07)

• Meetings and activities in a school building or district facility hosted by an outside organization per policy 905.01R(1)

Closing due to snow or hazardous driving conditions.

School will be canceled if heavy snow and/or icy conditions make it exceedingly hazardous or impossible for school buses to travel their routes and/or for employees and students to report to school safely. Decisions and notifications will be made by 5:30 a.m. on the morning of a cancellation. As a general practice, all activities are canceled unless otherwise noted.

Cancellations include (but are not limited to):

• All district schools and preschools

• Champions before and after school programs will be closed

• Field trips

• School events (elementary/middle school)

• Family engagement activities (i.e. in-person conferences)

• High school activity and athletic event cancellations are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee (Policy 504.07)

• Meetings and activities in a school building or district facility hosted by an outside organization per policy 905.01-R(1)

Closing due to temperature or wind chill.

School may be canceled if the forecast for 9:30 a.m. the following morning shows frostbite times of 30 minutes or less (see Appendix A). Notifications regarding cancellation will be made by 5:30 a.m. that morning. As a general practice, all activities are canceled unless otherwise noted.

Cancellations include (but are not limited to): 

• All district schools and preschools are closed

• Champions before and after school programs will be closed

• Field trips

• School events (elementary/middle school)

• Family engagement activities (i.e. in-person conferences)

• High school activity and athletic event cancellations are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee (Policy 504.07)

• Meetings and activities in a school building or district facility hosted by an outside organization per policy 905.01-R(1)

Canceling after-school activities due to weather conditions that are expected to worsen throughout the school day. School is in session as normal.

Cancellations include (but are not limited to):

• District-sponsored after-school programs and extra-curricular activities (elementary/middle school)

• Field trips may be canceled

• School events (elementary and middle school)

• Family engagement activities (i.e. in-person conferences)

• High school activity and athletic event cancellations are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee (policy 504.07)

• Meetings and activities in a school building or district facility hosted by an outside organization per policy 905.01-R(1)

• Champions after-school programs will be closed