Inclement Weather and Emergency Guidelines
This page contains the District's comprehensive plan for communicating and managing days when severe weather or emergency conditions disrupt the regular school schedule. Our goal is to ensure safety, provide timely information, and maintain instructional continuity when possible.
You’ll also see our Inclement Weather and Emergency Guidelines flyer for a quick visual breakdown of Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. This one-pager lays out exactly what each scenario means for students and staff, helping everybody stay clear on expectations if the weather gets unpredictable.
1. Communication and Notification Plan
We are committed to sharing essential operational decisions as early as possible.
- Target Notification Time: We aim to share our final decision regarding school operations by 5 a.m. on the day in question.
- Communication Channels: Information will be disseminated through multiple channels: the District website (www.SLPS.org), local media outlets, email, and automated calls/text messages for those who opt-in.
2. SLPS Inclement Weather and Emergency Plans
The Superintendent will declare one of the following three plans based on safety and conditions:
|
Plan |
Designation |
Student Expectations |
Staff Expectations |
|
A |
AMI DAY (Alternative Methods of Instruction) |
Students do not report to school and will receive AMI Day Instruction. |
School-based staff may work remotely or from their school building. 12-month staff receive details from supervisors. |
|
B |
SNOW DAY (Traditional Call-Off) |
NO SCHOOL. Students do not report to school and will not receive AMI instruction. |
Essential Operations Dept. (Safety Officers I and II, skilled trades, custodial staff) report to work. 12-month staff receive details from supervisors. |
|
C |
EMERGENCY DAY (Superintendent Declared) |
NO SCHOOL. Students do not report to school and will not receive AMI instruction. |
Operations Dept. will be on standby and receive details from supervisors. 12-month staff receive details from supervisors. |
Key Definitions from the Guidelines:
- AMI Day: A day when we teach and work from home due to various conditions, allowing instruction to continue.
- Traditional Snow Day: A day when we call off school due to inclement weather.
- Emergency Day: A day the Superintendent may declare when conditions are unsafe.
3. Rationale: AMI Days and the 169-Day Calendar
We understand there has been confusion regarding the choice between AMI Days (Plan A) and traditional Snow Days (Plan B). This strategy is driven by state requirements and our priority of instructional continuity.
- The 169-Day Requirement: State law mandates that students must receive a specific amount of instructional time (corresponding to approximately 169 student contact days). Traditional snow days require us to reschedule these missed days, often by adding them to the end of the school year.
- Instructional Continuity (The Primary Factor): Utilizing AMI Days (Plan A) allows us to maintain our scheduled last day of school and avoid extending the calendar into the summer. This prevents disruption to family and staff planning while ensuring learning continues, maintaining instructional pacing, and keeping us on track for state assessments.
Thank you for reviewing these important guidelines. We are committed to a safe and academically productive winter season.