Winter Weather Policy

Student safety is always the District's first priority in determining whether to close or delay schools. On bad weather days, the Superintendent receives a call from the Director of Operations with information on road conditions. In collaboration with the Superintendents of Widefield, Fountain-Fort Carson, and Cheyenne Mountain (nearest school districts), the Superintendent will make the decision to close schools and call a remote learning day or announce a two-hour delayed start. Announcements will be made between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

If a school closure is necessary, the District will operate on a remote learning status. Remote learning enables students to learn anytime and anywhere. Remote learning days will be announced in a similar manner as school closings are announced. 

What to expect on a remote learning day for inclement weather:  

• Applies to all students in the district in response to emergency closure 
• Students will complete pre-planned lessons in all content areas at their own pace 
• Assignments and expectations will be posted by the start of school on the morning of the closure.
  • 8:35 a.m. - Elementary Schools
  • 8:35 a.m. - Middle Schools (9:05 a.m. Carmel Middle School) 
  • 7:40 a.m. - High Schools

If a two-hour delayed start is called, the following will occur:

• No morning Head Start or Preschool classes - but full-day Head Start will operate on a two-hour delayed start
• No breakfast program
• Buses will run two hours later and run on the regular schedule at the end of the day 
• Classes will begin two hours later and end at the usual time at the end of the day 
• Please check with your child care provider to see if they still offer before school care when the District has a two-hour delay. They will most likely be open in the afternoon unless the District closes for the entire day or calls for canceled after-school activities. It is advised for parents to get this information directly from their child care provider.

When inclement weather occurs and parents feel weather conditions are a threat to their child's well-being, they may notify the school, and those absences or late arrivals will be excused. The students are our first priority, and we feel strongly that any change in procedure be thoroughly communicated to avoid confusion and difficulty for our students, parents, and staff.

Two-hour delay Monday – Friday
School starts at
10:35 a.m. - Elementary Schools
10:35 a.m. - Middle Schools (11:05 am Carmel Middle School)
  9:45 a.m. - High Schools

School ends at the regularly scheduled time

Monday morning 2-hour delay means no PLC meetings or professional development, and a Monday 2-hour delay is to be treated as a Tuesday-Friday school day.

Watch local television stations, check the district website, the district app, or the district Facebook page between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. when there is inclement weather.