It's Snowing!  Do We Have School Today?

On snowy winter mornings students of all ages across Stafford County may ask this question. How will Stafford County Schools determine whether schools will be closed or delayed? The answer results from many hours of assessment by Stafford County Public School staff.

Stafford County Public Schools Policy 5096 states “The superintedent/designee may order the closing, a delay in opening, or the early dismissal of any or all schools in order to protect the safety and welfare of the students and staff."

Ofen we are asked, “how did you make the decision to close or not to close schools today?” The process involves many staff members and community organizations. On mornings when inclement weather (snow, ice, rain, hurricanes, etc) is expected or is a possibility, the  Stafford County Public Schools’ weather operations center opens.

• At 4:00 a.m. the inclement weather operations center opens.
• The Sheriff’s Office and VDOT are contacted for updates on current road conditions and any particular areas of concern.
• The weather operations center staff monitors weather forecasts through a variety of weather sites and contacts other school divisions to determine their opening, closing or delay status.
• The five-member road assessment team drives assigned routes throughout the county determining road conditions and hazards for bus drivers. They are on the road between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. checking road conditions, school driveways and parking lots. They communicate the road conditions in their sectors to the weather operations center.
• By 5:15 a.m. the weather operations center staff forms an initial recommendation to open, close, or delay the opening of school and relays this recommendation to the superintendent.
• By 5:30 a.m. the superintendent makes the final decision regarding opening of schools.

At 5:30 a.m. the following steps are taken:

• The decision to close or delay opening of schools is relayed to a number of radio and television stations in the Fredericksburg, Richmond and Metro DC areas.
• The information is posted on the School website at www.staffordschools.net and on the central office voice mail system at 658-6698.
• The information is shared with SchoolsOut.com.
• If the decision is to delay the opening of school, the road assessment team continues to check the road conditions. The weather operations center staff continues to monitor weather forecast information and to check with other school divisions on their final decision for opening schools.
• The road assessment team reports to the weather operations center by 7:15 a.m. and a final recommendation is made to the superintendent for maintaining the delayed opening or for closing for the day.

Time Line At A Glance

4 a.m.:  Stafford County Schools weather operations center and road assessment teams begin evaluating weather conditions.
5:15 a.m.: Weather operations center staff makes a recommendation regarding closing or delaying school.
5:30 a.m.: The superintendent makes the final decision regarding the opening of schools.
5:30 a.m.: All television and radio stations in the DC area are notified of the decision.
5:45 a.m.: The decision is posted to www.staffordschools.net, placed on the central office voice mail system at 540/658-6698 and sent to www.schoolsout.com for notification to registered email and cell phone accounts.
7:15 a.m:  The deadline for changing a school delay to a school closing.

On the day following an inclement weather day, parents and students have asked for information regarding whether school is operating on a regular schedule. This year Stafford Schools will post on the website a statement that schools are operating on a regular schedule. As the news media will not announce that we are operating regularly, this is the only way we will be able to communicate this information.

For school closing and delay announcements, call 540-658-6698 or check the website at www.staffordschools.net or register with www.schoolsout.com for email and cell phone notifications.

How is the school calendar adjusted for days missed due to inclement weather?

Back to Emergency Closing Information

Questions or Comments?  Contact Us

Information Provided by:  Office of Public Information

Maintained by:  Webmaster
Last Updated:  10/15/09