Inclement Weather
- How To Find Out About Closures, Delays and Bus Routes
- Making Weather-Related Decisions
- Mountain Schools
- Dressing for Winter Weather
How To Find Out About Closures, Delays and Bus Routes
- The district makes every effort to decide and announce decisions to close schools before 5:30 a.m. The planning and review process begins the night before.
- SchoolMessenger, the district's messaging system, sends messages via email, text message and phone. Update your information in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to ensure you receive messages.
- To receive the latest information, follow the district's Instagram and Facebook pages. Once you have "followed" them, turn on notifications for Jeffco’s social channels.
- Listen and watch the news media, particularly local TV stations. Closure information will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Making Weather-Related Decisions
Predicting the weather, especially across a large and geographically diverse district like Jeffco, presents a challenge, even with the expertise of meteorologists.
We have assembled a dedicated weather team comprising leaders from various departments throughout the district. We use expert forecasts from a professional weather company and the National Weather Service. Our team diligently monitors incoming weather forecasts, analyzes forecast models to assess factors such as total snowfall, considers the ability of district operations crews to clear parking lots and sidewalks, and reviews the potential impact on school arrival and dismissal. Based on this analysis, the team determines whether a delay or closure is necessary.
While weather predictions are not always accurate, we remain committed to prioritizing student and staff safety while maximizing valuable learning time in the classroom.
Note: Charter schools make their own decisions regarding weather-related school closures. Please contact the school directly to confirm closures, cancelations or delays.
Questions that help determine the decision to close or delay school:
- Can our school bus and snow removal teams do their jobs?
- Will we be able to provide meals?
- What is the forecast for later in the day?
Jeffco considers the impact on families who do not have access to other childcare and cannot afford to take a day off with minimal notice. The district also provides meals for hundreds of families who rely on the food for breakfast and lunch every day.
The main question is whether the situation justifies disrupting 66,500 students' families and their basic human needs, 14,000 employee schedules, and the expense to the school district. Most often, the answer is no. Because of all these reasons, Jeffco will always do everything possible to keep schools open every day.
Mountain Schools
- Bergen Elementary School
- Conifer High School
- Elk Creek Elementary School
- Evergreen High School
- Evergreen Middle School
- Jefferson Academy Coal Creek Canyon*
- Marshdale Elementary School
- Parmalee Elementary School
- Ralston Elementary School
- Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen Charter*
- West Jefferson Elementary
- West Jefferson Middle School
- Wilmot Elementary School
*Note: Charter schools make their own decisions regarding weather-related school closures. Please contact the school directly to confirm closures, cancelations or delays.
Dressing for Winter Weather
During the winter months, please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for cold and snowy weather. This includes hats, mittens or gloves, a scarf, a warm coat and waterproof boots.
It’s important to remember that bus routes may be delayed due to snow or ice, so students who take the bus should be prepared and dress appropriately for the cold weather.
Two-Hour Delayed Start
For everyone
- Two-hour delay will only be used for extreme weather.
- Families will be notified by 5:30 a.m.
- School starts two hours later than the regular start time of your school.
- School ends at the normal time.
- Buses run two hours later than normal in the morning.
- Tardies and absences will be excused if the family notifies the school.
- Limited staff will be available at school for working families who cannot make alternate arrangements.
- Missed school work should be provided and accepted under the same policy as applies to regular absences.
Contact your school if you have questions.
What to expect
| If you have a student in: | Expect: |
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Snow Closures and Cancellations
For everyone
- Closures related to weather that last one day will be treated as a snow day. There is no instruction or remote learning during a snow day.
- The determination to cancel school for an entire day will happen as early as possible.
- Families and staff will be directly notified by 5:30 a.m.
- Jeffco’s remote learning programs, Jeffco Virtual Academy and Jeffco Remote Learning Program will have snow days and no attendance will be taken.
After-school care and event cancellations
- If the weather becomes dangerous during school, after-school activities will be canceled.
- The decision will be made by 1 p.m., and communicated to all families and staff.
- All students must go home after school if after-school activities are canceled and after-school care programs may close early.
- Staff will stay at school until all students are picked up, but families are asked to pick up students as soon as possible if after-school programs are canceled.
- Check with individual schools or event sponsors about the cancellation of events and activities. Many schools use social media to share this information, so follow your student's school and the district's social media for fast information.
Length of a weather-related school closure
Weather-related closures are for one day only, unless an announcement says the closure will be longer. If there are no further announcements after one day, schools will operate as usual.
Make-up days
District policy requires a specific number of days each year that teachers must work directly with students. When a school falls below this level, make-up days may need to be scheduled. Check the district's school year calendar for details.
Remote Learning Day
For everyone
- Remote learning days are used if the weather or other emergencies require school closure for multiple days in a row.
- To transition to remote learning days Jeffco must have sufficient time before the multi-day closure to communicate to students, staff and families to prepare.
Remote learning day preparation
To prepare for a potential remote learning day:
- District school leaders will be notified the day before the anticipated storm arrives to plan for a remote learning day.
- The final decision for a remote learning day will not be made until late that night or in the early morning the day of the expected storm.
- Staff and families will be notified as soon as possible about the final decision.
- Messages will be sent to the community and the media will be notified by 5:30 a.m., the day of the storm.
- Teachers will work with students who are attending school in person to take home materials and devices such as Chromebooks and iPads to learn from home. Teachers will plan lessons for a remote learning day and work to accommodate students’ needs.
- All remote-only learners will continue their learning as usual.
- Students who do not have access to a device or internet access from home can have their attendance excused according to the normal absence notification procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a set temperature that would cause the district to close schools?
- Sometimes, schools experience power outages or other emergencies, such as broken pipes. What is the procedure when this happens?
- How can I make sure my student is safe?
- What about school bus transportation when the weather is bad?
- Does the district only close some schools while others remain open?
- What is the guidance for Jeffco employees?
Is there a set temperature that would cause the district to close schools?
Sometimes, schools experience power outages or other emergencies, such as broken pipes. What is the procedure when this happens?
District personnel make every effort to protect students and provide for their comfort. Sometimes, power outages cause classrooms to get cold, but the district does not want to send students home unsupervised. School principals can decide to send students home. If this happens, the district uses social media and SchoolMessenger's email, text and phone capabilities to notify families and will post notifications on the district and school websites. Students will not be transported home without family notification.
How can I make sure my student is safe?
- Families have the option to keep students home when weather conditions are extreme.
- Students should always be dressed appropriately for whatever weather conditions exist. No one can predict when a fire alarm might go off or when buildings might be evacuated due to an emergency.
- Families are encouraged to make arrangements for their students at the beginning of each school year in case of school closures.
- Families should always maintain current contact information and emergency contact information in Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
What about school bus transportation when the weather is bad?
All bus stops will operate unless an emergency announcement is made. In inclement weather, buses may run late for a variety of reasons, but usually less than 15 minutes. Prepare your student in warm clothing to wait additional time at the bus stop.
Families should have an alternate plan in case a bus is extremely late or breaks down before arriving at the bus stop. Discuss with your student what to do and who to call if the bus does not arrive.
Does the district only close some schools while others remain open?
Yes. The district may close select schools due to unsafe conditions but leave other schools not affected by the issue open. Jeffco covers more than 770 square miles and conditions can be very different throughout the county.
An example of this may be – Mountain Schools Closed; All Other Schools Open. This decision may be made due to extreme and dangerous conditions in the mountain areas while the rest of the county experiences safe and manageable conditions.
What is the guidance for Jeffco employees?
The following personnel should make every effort to accomplish essential and required work either remotely or by reporting physically to work. Additionally, departments should determine annually any essential personnel and work activities that must occur in the event of school/district closings and ensure all personnel understand their responsibilities:
- Superintendent and Cabinet
- School Leadership Team
- Security office personnel
- Facility managers or designated custodians
Cabinet members will be available to essential personnel on inclement weather days.
Nonexempt employees (people entitled to overtime pay) should not be asked to report to work unless their responsibility is to respond to the emergency that caused the closing. For example, snow removal by the custodians would be an appropriate reason for their being at the schools, even if the school is closed to student and teacher use.
In general, exempt personnel (administrators and other licensed employees) will not be required to work (either in person or remotely) when district schools are closed. However, facilities may be closed in limited cases, and employees may be expected to report to work. This information will be determined and clearly communicated at the time the closure is announced.
Employees can read the updated policy EBCE regarding school closings/cancellations and two-hour delays in BoardDocs.