Note from the Supt 1/8/25

Dear MISD Families,

As we continue to receive weather reports about possible winter precipitation, I wanted to take an opportunity to provide an update to families and staff. We continue to watch weather forecasts very closely and this afternoon will be on a second webinar call with the National Weather Service. Information they share helps guide us as a school district.

This particular winter storm is proving to be one with many moving parts. The forecast changes will make it that much more challenging to predict the impact the storm will have in Midlothian and our surrounding Ellis County area. This will be a challenging decision.

We know families and staff want and need to plan. We want you to know as soon as possible what we are going to do. Our intent is to be as prudent as possible in making a timely decision. Today we are fortunate to have so many great communication channels at our fingertips like social media, text alerts and email. These mass notification platforms are really helpful in getting information out quickly. Back a few decades ago everyone was very reliant on TV and radio. I remember as a kid, before mass notification tools existed, I listened to WBAP radio to find out if my school would be closed due to weather. We are grateful to have these communication tools that can instantly connect us with families and staff.

In inclement weather situations, timing is critical and the safety of students and staff is our priority. Decisions are not made lightly. The call to close or delay the start of school due to weather can have negative implications if schools are cancelled too soon and the weather forecast changes or doesn't come to fruition. In my experience, forecasts can be wrong. It's a lonely feeling for a superintendent when you cancel school and all of a sudden it's 65 degrees that day because, well, it's Texas. That probably will not happen with this storm, but we are receiving reports that road conditions may not hit our area until late evening Thursday into early morning Friday.

We'll have more information after our call with the National Weather Service this afternoon as we continue to monitor forecasts and conditions. Thank you for your patience. Please know we are working hard to make the best decision while also being timely. Families and staff can expect to receive another update this evening.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Belding

Superintendent

The first consideration is the road conditions, both in the Midlothian area and for our faculty members who are driving in from outside the city.

A second consideration is the forecast for the day. We want to be sure our students and staff can arrive and return home safely. If a storm is predicted to arrive during the school day or if icy conditions are not expected to be alleviated during the course of the day, we take those considerations into account.

Third, we check our buildings to ensure that heating units are working and to check for burst pipes. Our maintenance staff also assesses icy conditions on sidewalks and in parking lots. They work to contain any hazards ice may create.