Considerations in making decisions regarding a weather day have not changed from years past. However, what has changed is our ability to provide a full remote learning day if weather conditions do not allow us to be in person. Should we be faced with being unable to provide in-person learning due to severe weather, we will hold a remote learning day for all students.
There are many considerations we use to make this decision. When weather is severe, it’s helpful to be familiar with the procedures that East Prairie will follow if and when there is a need to hold our in-person classes remotely.
HOW DOES THE DISTRICT MAKE ITS DECISION?
With the safety of our students and staff foremost in mind, decisions to close are circumstance-specific. The following considerations are analyzed before a decision is made to close school:
- Temperature (-20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder) and Wind Chill (a wind chill of -35 degrees Fahrenheit is dangerous, as skin exposure for more than 20–30 minutes can cause frostbite)
- The amount of accumulated snow and ice, and the conditions for our students who walk to school
- The ability of school bus drivers to report to work on time and the ability of buses to function (when buses are utilized)
- Conditions of the school building (heat/water/electricity/access to parking lots and sidewalks)
- Safety of travel on roadways (reported from the Skokie Police Department and our Building & Grounds Department)
- Weather predictions (we prefer not to make our decision based on this as predictions are not always accurate, but sometimes it’s unavoidable)
- What other school districts are doing (we make our decision in cooperation with other Niles Township elementary districts and Niles Township High Schools)
WHO MAKES THE DECISION?
The Superintendent of Schools or designee makes the final decision, based on the above factors. The decision to close school will be made by 6:00 a.m. or earlier, if possible. Sometimes it will be the evening before, and other times it will be the morning of a closure.
HOW DO PARENTS GET NOTIFIED?
East Prairie uses contact information from our student database to send the message of a school closing or emergency to all parents/guardians and staff. We will also update our website with closing information. Please be advised that if you do not receive such a notification, school will be in session in-person as scheduled.
If your contact information changes, be sure to notify our office staff at East Prairie to update our database with your new email/phone number.
There are several ways to find out if school is closed (or open) on what seems like a bad weather day:
- Listen for our automated phone messaging call (our goal is to start our automated calls no later than 6:15 a.m.)
- Check your email account associated with East Prairie School
- Visit the EPS website: www.eps73.net, where information will be posted on the home page
DO SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS NEED TO BE MADE UP?
Since we now offer eLearning on days when the school is closed, no make-up days are necessary.
PARENTS’ DECISION
District 73 does its best to make a decision that is best for everyone, and we realize that often no perfect decision exists. If you do not feel it is safe for your child to attend school, we respect your right to keep your child at home. Please notify the school office to report an absence.
If you have any questions, please call the school office at (847) 673-1141.