Decision-Making Process to Delay or Cancel School

Decision-Making Process to Delay or Cancel School

Extreme Cold

Middletown City School District relies on information and guidelines from the National Weather Service for determining when to delay or cancel school for extreme cold.

The district will close on days when the temperature and/or wind chill are below -20ºF to -25ºF. According to this chart from the National Weather Service, temperatures with wind chills in this range are considered dangerously cold if exposure is over 10-15 minutes long. For students who walk to school or wait at bus stops, we consider extreme cold to be a safety issue.

• The National Weather Service issues a Wind Chill Advisory when wind chills are -15 or colder.
• The National Weather Service issues a Wind Chill Warning when wind chills are -25 or colder

A decision to delay or cancel school for extreme cold will be made by 5 a.m.

Snow

Several factors are taken into account when deciding to delay or cancel school for snow. That includes the amount of precipitation, snow accumulation, and road conditions.

Before 5 a.m., our Business Manager and Maintenance Crews drive through the district to assess the conditions of main roads, side streets, school parking lots, and sidewalks.

The Business Manager also keeps a close eye on the National Weather Service outlook and multiple weather forecasts. 

A decision to delay or cancel school for snow will be made by 5 a.m.