School Closings, Delays and Early Dismissals
During inclement weather, the State College Area School District considers operating on a normal schedule, delaying, or closure based on student safety. The primary question guiding every decision is are conditions safe for students and employees to travel.
At times, delay or closure decisions are made the morning of forecasted inclement weather, but sometimes they are made the night before. Deciding in the morning allows district administrators to review the most accurate information possible to make these difficult decisions. Below is how that process works:
Early Morning Review
On the day of inclement weather, the transportation director, superintendent and other administrators may begin monitoring conditions around 4 a.m. Information is gathered from:
- National Weather Service
- Weather websites
- Local police via the county 911 communications center for real-time road conditions
- District transportation, maintenance, and grounds staff who are already assessing conditions
Decision Process
Before 4:45 a.m., the team reviews all available information. While the final decision is in the hands of the superintendent, factors considered include:
- Road conditions
- Type, timing, and intensity of precipitation
- Actual temperature and wind chill
- Weather variation across the district’s 150 square miles
- Student exposure to cold, including walkers and bus riders
- Bus operation concerns, including extreme cold affecting diesel fuel
- The safety of student drivers, including new and inexperienced winter drivers
- Forecasted conditions later in the day, including dismissal time
Coordination and Communication
When possible, the superintendent coordinates with neighboring districts before finalizing a decision.
If a delay or closure is needed, families and staff are notified as soon as a decision is made. Typically, about 5:15 a.m., but sometimes conditions make the call later. It’s important that the notification goes out as soon as possible so that our facility and grounds crews, as well as food service workers have as much time as possible to plan for the day. The community is then notified through phone, email, text alerts, social media posts, on the district websites, and through local TV and radio.
Members of the community who would like to receive emergency communications such as weather delays or early dismissals can sign up to be notified. Employees and district families are automatically enrolled so there is not need to sign up again.
Delay Options
Normal bus arrival times are pushed ahead by the respective delay.
1-hour delay schedule:
- Elementary begins at 9:10 a.m.
- Secondary begins at 9:40 a.m.
2-hour delay schedule:
- Elementary begins at 10:10 a.m.
- Secondary begins at 10:40 a.m.
3-hour delay schedule:
- Elementary begins at 11:10 a.m.
- Secondary begins at 11:40 a.m.
Early Dismissals
Sometimes the weather deteriorates during the school day. In these cases, the District will consider an early dismissal. In this case, the District tries to make a decision by noon.
Make Up Days
Snow days will be made up according to the academic calendar.