Below is the plan for GCS for when bad weather occurs:
The decision to close schools or delay opening due to snow or icy conditions is sometimes a difficult one to make but can be aided by having an effective plan in place.
When bad weather occurs, we will make every effort to announce our plans for the day by 6:00 a.m. Unfortunately, a one- or two-hour delay in opening may be necessary to give additional time for streets to improve or to study the weather a little longer.
Following are the procedures we will follow:
Closings and/or Delays
Step 1:
We will begin to examine streets at 4:00 am. The police department, emergency management agency, weather bureau(s), highway patrol, and others will be contacted as deemed necessary.
Step 2:
If there is a concern regarding streets and/or parking lots, the Director of Schools will be notified by 5:00 a.m. At that time, a meeting will be convened at the Central Office (Phone communication may be substituted for this meeting as appropriate or necessary).
Step 3:
Our options will normally be to close for the day or to open one or two hours late; late openings will be subject to review at 7:00 am (one-hour delay) or 8:00 a.m. (two-hour delay) prior to buses beginning their routes.
Early Dismissal
Step 1:
A decision will be made as quickly as possible in order to ensure the safety of the children, parents, and staff.
Step 2:
When possible, a 30-minute notice will be given to the transportation department to give time for drivers to reach their buses and begin routes.
Step 3:
As soon as a decision is made, schools and media outlets will be notified. Parents will be informed that children may be picked up before buses run. High school students that drive will be dismissed immediately.
Step 4:
If conditions allow, Greeneville High School and Greeneville Middle School students will be picked up and taken home first by the buses. Following the middle school and high school routes, elementary routes will be run. Information will be provided via the SwiftK12 message if it this procedure is altered in any way.
Notes:
Decisions about early dismissal and the following school day will be made as soon as possible. Parents and staff to check the radio, TV stations, or our web site rather than call the school or central office.
Decisions will be released to the media as soon as they are made.
Greeneville City Schools closing and delayed opening information may be heard on any of the following radio and television stations (The information will also be posted on our web site at www.gcschools.net ).
RADIO
WGRV/WSMG 1340/1450 AM, and 103.1 FM, 101.5 FM
TELEVISION WBIR CH 10 and WJHL CH 11
The school system’s emergency notification system (Swift K-12) will be used to notify employees and parents of closings, delays, and dismissals as an additional method of communication.
Parents are reminded that when schools are on a one- or two-hour delay, there is a possibility that school could still be called off for the entire day. Therefore, parents should not drop children off at school until the appropriate starting time.
On days when students are released early, decisions may require immediate action; therefore, parents are asked to have a plan in place so that children know where to be delivered by bus or who will be picking them up. This will alleviate concern on the part of the children and allow school phone lines to remain open for emergencies.
