As we all know, our weather and its impacts are often unpredictable. Lamoille North towns span approximately 251 square miles and weather conditions can often be quite different from one end of the district to the other. Also, we know that in addition to being very unpredictable, weather can change drastically in a short period of time. Safety is the most important factor.
Our transportation system is centralized and all buses travel from each of our towns to the Lamoille Union Campus. If one town experiences freezing rain, and the roads are considered potentially unsafe by our road crews in that town, we will close school even if the weather conditions and roads in every other town are safe for travel. Decisions must be made based on the safety of all of our students and staff in all of our towns.
We give consideration to our students who are new drivers on winter roads and to whether the faculty, at large, commuting from all over the state, will be able to arrive safely, and if we will adequately be able to staff schools for the day. We will usually not have a delayed opening unless our road crews make that suggestion. Sometimes a little extra time to treat the roads is needed, especially if a storm hits after the roads have been sanded, but that is the crews’ decision alone to make. Most of the time, crews are able to manage weather and road conditions to ensure that the roads designated as bus routes are ready in time for a regular opening of the school day.
We rely on the expertise of our road crews when it comes to evaluating the weather conditions because they are already out on the roads and have the best 'real time' knowledge. We have our cell phones set up for alerts from the State of Vermont. Also, we regularly monitor the following sources for forecasts and predictions: The National Weather Service, WCAX, and the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
We will make every attempt to make school closure decisions by 5:30 am, after talking with road crews from each town. A message will be sent to all families and staff using contact information we have for you in Infinite Campus. Please make sure you have created your Parent Portal and that your contact information is accurate.
It is important to note that school in coordination with our bus providers can sometimes delay, cancel, or modify individual roads and routes based on weather impacts. If those changes need to be made, school administrators will contact parents and caregivers who live along those routes early in the morning. We have had situations where the roads are fine at the time we need to make a 5:30 a.m. call for delay or closure, only to have unpredicted freezing rain or other situations that make travel less safe. In situations where buses are already on the road and road conditions become worse, bus drivers pull over and call our road crews for assistance with sanding or plowing. The drivers at Lamoille Valley Transportation and all other drivers will not attempt roads that do not appear safe.
Ultimately, we try to make the best decision we can every single day using all available
information. As an important reminder – parents/caregivers have the final determination on whether to send their child to school on inclement weather days. If a parent/caregiver feels that the roads in their area are too hazardous, they can contact their child’s school and that missed day or missed class time will be counted as excused.
