CLOSING SCHOOLS
2.20
It is the general policy of the School Committee that schools shall be kept open
in accordance with the established school calendar. Theá Superintendent shall,
however, have the authority to close any school or schools whenever conditions in his
judgment are such as to endanger the health and/or welfare of the pupils.
REGULATIONS
CLOSING OF SCHOOL INFORMATION
NO SCHOOL-ALL SCHOOLS-ALL DAY-ANNOUNCED AT 6:45 A.M. and 7:00 A.M.
Announcement on WRKO/Channel 7, WBZ/Channel 4, WCVB/Channel 5, WLVI/Channel 56,
WXLO/104.5 FM.
Closing of the afternoon kindergarten sessions will be announced at 11:00 A.M.
Calls can be made to 376-7013. An answering service will provide an up-to-date
announcement about the status of school sessions.
IN NO EVENT SHOULD CALLS BE MADE TO THE POLICE STATION TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE
CLOSING OF SCHOOLS.
Emergency Dismissal of Schools
1. The Superintendent shall use all available input before arriving at a decision
to dismiss school early.
2. Administrators at the elementary and secondary levels and the Director of
Transportation shall be alerted about a dismissal. With this awareness, they will be
able to begin to put into motion, the details necessary for a dismissal
(announcements in school, contacting bus drivers, etc.).
3. The Police will be alerted about the decision. The Fire Department will be
called to sound the alarm.
4. The whistle will be sounded 2 - 2 three times.
5. Policewomen will be stationed at their usual crossings.
6. The broadcasting stations will be contracted.
7. The Middle and High School students will be dismissed as soon as possible.
8. Depending on the circumstances, approximately 25 minutes after the High School
dismissal, the release of elementary students will begin.
9. Parents of children who normally are unable to hear the fire whistle or who
will need specific notification due to extenuating circumstances in the case of early
dismissal, should make arrangements with their neighbor(s) or other citizens early in
the school year.
It is suggested that parents make every effort to educate their children on what
to do upon their arrival in the event of an emergency dismissal.
Any questions pertaining to this matter should be directed to the appropriate
building principal.
High School 376-7010
Middle School 376-7014
P.P.S 376-7021
Clyde Brown School 376-7003
Emergency Closing of One School Only
1. If for any major emergency it is decided to close one building prior to the
opening of school, the announcement will be made on the radio and television stations
mentioned on the previous page. In this situation only the school with the physical
problem will be closed. If the facility is an elementary one, ten short blasts will
sound at 7:30 a.m. to indicate you should listen to your radio. If possible, a sound
truck will be used to relay the information about the emergency.
2. If for any major emergency it is decided to close one of the buildings after
school opening, the radio and television stations will be notified. Emergency
dismissal procedures will be put into effect. Ten short blasts will be sounded to
indicate that only one building is being dismissed and that you should listen to your
radio for detailed information.
3. If the emergency exists after lunch at only one elementary school pupils will
be transferred to another elementary building instead of sending them home.
4. If pupils in the Middle School and/or the High School are to be dismissed prior
to the arrival of elementary school students, the elementary students will be brought
to school before secondary students are transported home.
A DELAYED START FOR THE OPENING OF SCHOOL DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER
There may be an
occasion when the weather in the early morning hours may be treacherous but show
evidence of improving (icy conditions).
It would be
prudent to delay the start of school when the conditions warrant the schedule of a
school day as opposed to canceling school.
Given that
situation, an announcement will be made via radio and T.V. channel 5 of a one hour
delayed starting time. Examples of school arrivals are:
a. If a student leaves home at
7:30 a.m. to arrive at 7:40 a.m., plan to leave home at 8:30 a.m.
b. If a student leaves home to
board a bus at 7:50 a.m., plan to leave home at 8:50
a.m.
c. If a student leaves home to board a
bus at 8:20 a.m., plan to leave home at 9:20 a.m.
d. If a student leaves home to
walk to school at 8:30 a.m., plan to leave home at 9:30
a.m.
The school day
will end at the usual time. It will not be extended.
Students should
report to the class that they would normally attend at the hour of arrival unless
otherwise directed by the respective building principal.
The decision to
schedule the P.M. kindergarten classes will be made at 11:00 a.m.
No Whistles
will be sounded for the one hour delayed school starting time.
The radio/TV
stations which will make the one hour delayed school
announcement are:
WBZ/Channel 4, WCVB/Channel 5, WRKO/Channel 7,
WLVI/Channel 56 and WXLO/104.5 FM
POLICY: EMERGENCY CLOSING OF SCHOOLS
In the event
that a call or notice to the effect that a bomb has been placed in a school, the
following procedures should be employed:
A. Immediate evacuation of the building
of all pupils and all personnel using the signal usually employed for fire
drills.
B. Immediate notification of the Police
and Fire Department is required.
The Head Custodian and the Office of the Superintendent will he notified.
C. An immediate search of the building
shall be made under the supervision
of the Police and Fire Chiefs or their designates. Following the search, the
Superintendent or his designate will allow the building tu be occupied.