Emergency Closing Procedures 2020-2021 School Year

December 16, 2020
 

Dear Families: 

 

Winter weather is on the way to Central New York and now is a good time to review our plans for emergency school closure days. Please be sure to check our website and local news channels tomorrow morning in the event that we have a delay or an emergency closure.

 

The district’s 2020-21 academic calendar allows for six emergency closure days, which are used when the district must close due to conditions beyond its control, such as inclement weather or an unplanned loss of utilities.

 

LaFayette’s emergency closure days will be non-instructional days for both our in person learners and digital learners. Staff members and students are not expected to report to school remotely or otherwise on these days. If the district needs to use more than six emergency closure days this school year, students and staff will be expected to participate in remote learning on the additional day(s).

 

In the event that the district needs to use more than six emergency closing days, one option would be to shift to remote learning on those days when students and staff are precluded from attending in-person due to inclement weather. The New York State Education Department has granted school districts a waiver that allows them to hold “online” remote instructional days instead of “on-campus” days.  

 

The district uses SchoolMessenger to notify parents, guardians and district staff members of emergency school closings, delays and early dismissals. The system generates an automated phone call, email message – if an email address has been provided to the district – and a text message for those parents, guardians and staff members who have opted in to the SchoolMessenger text message service.

 

If parents or guardians are unsure whether the district has their correct email or phone numbers on file, they should contact their child’s main office when school is in session.

 

The district website and local news media will serve as backup notification systems and as a notification source for non-parents or community organizations. 

 

It is best to rely on more than one source of information when it comes to weather-related announcements. This is particularly true in situations that involve power outages, which can affect the district’s ability to send electronic notifications.

 

The district will share school closing and delay information with the following local news media: Spectrum News (channel 10), CNYCentral (channels 3 and 5); LocalSYR (TV channel 9), and syracuse.com.

 

The district also uses social media to notify the public of an emergency closing or delay. Be sure to check the LaFayette Central School District Facebook page for updates.

When there is inclement weather, the decision to dismiss early, delay opening or close school is based on the superintendent’s discussions with our transportation supervisor, local highway officials, and the latest weather predictions. Unless otherwise noted, all scheduled activities at LaFayette Central School District schools are canceled on the days school is closed or closes early.

 

Have a great afternoon!

 

Sincerely,

Jeremy Belfield

Superintendent of Schools

LaFayette Central School District

jbelfield@lafayetteschools.org

315-529-9550 (cell)