CROSSROADS CHARTER ACADEMY

CROSSROADS CHARTER ACADEMY

"Home of the Cougars"

Embracing Excellence in Education

Winter weather will be upon us before you know it! No superintendent likes to make the decision that school must be delayed, called off, or students sent home early. It is very important that every family prepare for different situations that affect the normal school routine. Representatives from neighboring school districts communicate early in the day when weather issues occur. We then contact the area radio and TV stations with special codes so they can air the information. The best way to keep informed is to watch TV 9/10, 7/4, 8, and 13 or listen to radio stations WTCM, WYBR, or Northern Christian Radio. When the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District closes, it eliminates the career center, math/science program, and special education support activities. This affects many of our students and usually CCA will also cancel classes for the day. Districts create and follow school calendars that exceed the required hours of instruction so USUALLY extra days do not need to be added. Here are some examples that families need to be ready for.

-Delays- Thankfully, Crossroads Charter Academy did not have a one or two hour delay during the last two school years, but, everyone needs to have a plan to deal with a delay if one is needed this year. Fog, ice, power failure, or water issues are the most common reasons to delay school. It is important that CCA families have a plan for students to get to school if a delay is necessary. Fog and ice situations affect several school districts but water and power problems are usually district specific. I would call for a delay when I am confident the problem is temporary after communicating with other involved people. The idea is to provide four to five hours of instruction after the problem is gone (weather improves, power restored, etc.).

-No School Days- This is the most common interruption to the school routine. Superintendent’s always need to focus on the safety of students, parents, and staff. Sometimes this is clear cut and other times it is very difficult. The timing of a weather or facility problem, the best prediction of the severity, and when the problem will be gone, are all crucial. We do not always get it correct, are sometimes “second- guessed”, and there are times we are put in a “no-win” situation. I make the decision as early as possible and get the word out. Late arriving weather systems (5:00-7:00 am) are usually the toughest! It is important that CCA families have a plan for students to stay home or in a safe place when a closing is necessary.

-School Dismissed Early- There are times when the decision is made to send students home before the regular dismissal time. Power or water issues, or safety emergencies, that are predicted to last long enough to cause problems are the most common examples (no lights, heat, bathrooms, food, etc.). It is not common for weather issues to create an early dismissal. Normally, it makes more sense to allow the road crews to do their work and keep the students in a safe environment at school until normal dismissal times. I would use the same media contacts listed above if this decision was made. This scenario creates many problems for families and the school. People are scattered and many of them are not listening to any media source. CCA staff would do the best they could to contact families and supervise students in a safe environment. One of the best things parents can do to help is to make sure the school has an emergency contact or two that are usually available by phone during the day. It is important that CCA families have a plan for students to be transported early from school to home or a safe place when an early closing is necessary.

I hope you have found this information useful and informative. CCA is in a fairly unique situation because we do not bus our students to and from school. I do keep that in mind. Actually, my experiences in districts that do bus students have shown very similar problems when the routine is altered. It always took a long time to call bus drivers in during an early dismissal and parents were still faced with dilemmas with how to supervise younger students when the adults were at work during delays and no school days.

I hope the school year continues for you and your family in a positive and productive manner!