Hallsville Independent School District

Hallsville ISD understands the decision to open or close schools in bad weather has a significant effect on families. We also understand our students are better served—both academically and socially—by being in school. But, as always, our top priority is the safety of our students and staff.

When inclement or severe weather is forecast for our area, Hallsville ISD remains in close contact with weather personnel, area officials, and area superintendents. The Director of Transportation and additional staff will begin assessing the various bus routes in the district in the event of severe weather. The Director of Transportation remains in close contact with District Administration in regards to road conditions within the district. The ultimate question that must be answered in these assessments is, are the roads safe enough for travel by car or school bus? Can our students safely be brought to and from school on a given day based on road conditions in the district?

These decisions are made using the following relevant factors:

• Information on road conditions from transportation. Careful consideration is given to the most rural roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the district may be dangerous. Also, we must consider high school students that drive to school.
• Amount of water from rain, snow, and ice that has accumulated.
• Is the precipitation forecast to continue?
• Availability of heat and electricity to school buildings.
• Parking lot and sidewalk conditions are considered. Administrators talk to maintenance and custodial staff members who are responsible for clearing and treating school parking lots and sidewalks.
• Temperature and wind chill. Depending on the temperature and amount of forecast precipitation, it must be considered whether or not students are safely able to arrive at or go home during the school day.
• Weather predictions. We prefer to not always be making our decision based on weather forecasts, which are not always accurate, but sometimes this is unavoidable. We would always rather err on the side of safety, however.
• When necessary, the Director of Transportation will coordinate with local law enforcement to determine the safety of the roads in the district.
• What other school districts are doing? We also share information with other local districts and check whether they are opening or closing. The Superintendent makes the final decision about school closing or a delayed start of the school day. If at all possible, a decision will be made the night before to try and provide parents with advance notice time to make necessary arrangements. If a decision is not possible the night before, a decision will be made by 5:00 that morning.

Communicating A Closure

As soon as a decision is made, information regarding a closure of school will be immediately sent out via the district’s Parent Square notification system. The District will also post information on the district website and social media accounts. Local media are encouraged to visit the district website or the Hallsville ISD Facebook page for official updates regarding potential weather closures.

Effects On School Calendar/District Activities

Students are required to have 75,600 minutes of instruction per school year. Hallsville ISD has created additional minutes in the official district academic calendar. Closure of school decreases the margin of extra minutes in the calendar. If enough days are lost due to inclement weather, the District must consider adding additional time during the regular school day or potentially require students to make up the missed instructional time on scheduled holidays in order to make up the required minutes. Major closures or unusual weather conditions will be addressed as they occur and any calendar adjustments made and communicated as needed.

All extra-curricular activities will be canceled in the event that the school district has decided to close.  Any extenuating circumstances should be discussed with the Athletic Director and a final decision made by the Superintendent.

If weather conditions appear to be clearing up and a safe school start can occur using a delayed start, the decision to delay the start of school will be made. A delayed start is typically a two-hour delay, although this is ultimately at the discretion of the Superintendent. This would mean all morning activities would start later than normal, including bus pickup times. In the event of a delayed start, bus pickup times would begin two hours earlier than the designated time. Again, road and safety conditions are always of prime consideration in the decision to call a delayed start to the school day.

If weather conditions begin to deteriorate during the school day, a decision to release school early may be made. The main reason for an early dismissal is not to get the students home earlier but rather to allow the bus drivers a longer amount of time in which to safely navigate roads with deteriorating conditions safely home. We try to make that decision as early as possible in order to adequately coordinate the dismissal process. As soon as it is determined to dismiss early, the dismissal times for each grade level will be posted immediately on the District's website, via Parent Square, and on social media. All extra-curricular activities will be cancelled in the event that the school district has decided to dismiss school early.  Any extenuating circumstances should be discussed with the Athletic Director and a final decision made by the Superintendent.