Administrative Guidance:
School Closing for Inclement Weather

Decisions to close or modify the school schedule due to inclement weather will be made based upon the following standards:

(A)		Prior to the beginning of the school day:
		A decision to close schools will be made by 4:00 a.m. Media will be notified at that time.
		The following procedure will be utilized to make this determination: Should ice or snow conditions develop overnight prior to school opening, the Superintendent will make the decision to close or open schools in conference with the Executive Director of the Capital Planning and Transportation Department and the Chief of Staff regarding the safe operation of buses on Memphis streets. This decision will be made based upon data collected by the Director of Security from security officers that are on nightly patrol, MCS Transportation conducting road reviews, MCS Transportation Contractors, Memphis Police Department, TDOT and the current weather forecast. Once the decision is made to close or open schools, the Chief of Staff will contact the Department of Communications representative, the Board of Commissioners, MCS Security, SLT, and Academic Superintendents who will in turn contact the Principals. The Executive Director of the Capital Planning and Transportation Department will contact the MCS Transportation Director, Facilities Maintenance and the Director of Central Nutrition Center. (See attached School Closing for Inclement Weather flowchart for a graphic illustration.) It is every employee’s responsibility to listen to the radio or television whenever announcements are imminent regarding school closings. Local radio and television stations will be notified of the decision immediately. Such notification is under the control of the Superintendent. The Superintendent and all other central office personnel and personnel assigned to administrative units should report for work. All supervisory custodial personnel and maintenance employees will report for work as usual. When school is cancelled, the building will be closed for use. However, provision must be made for pupils to enter the building 20 minutes prior to the opening time. On these occasions adequate teacher supervision must be provided. Supervising Building Engineers, Assistant Supervising Building Engineers, Zone Supervisors, and Trainees will be required to report to work.. All extracurricular activities scheduled to be held at school facilities will be cancelled.
(B)		After the beginning of the school day:
		A decision to modify the length of the school day will be made as soon as practical, typically by 10:00 a.m. Media will be notified at that time.
		When notified of the decision for an abbreviated school day, principals should place local school plans for stranded students into operation. Transportation Services will coordinate the pick up of bused students according to opening times of schools (7:30, 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.). Any questions regarding transportation should be directed to that office (416-5540). In the weather-related emergency situations (e.g., power outage, flooding, etc.), the school principal shall contact his/her Academic Director who will notify the Chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff will confer with the Superintendent and the Executive Director of the Capital Planning and Transportation Department . If the decision is made to close school or evacuate to an emergency site, the Executive Director of the Capital Planning and Transportation Department will handle all necessary coordination and communication with other MCS central offices (e.g., Transportation Contractors, Communications, Security, Nutrition Services, and Exceptional Children and Health Services.)