Inclement Weather Guidelines

• Weather-related decisions are based on numerous variables. Decisions are made with regard to the safety of school bus travel and for the children standing at bus stops.
• Parents have a child-specific perspective regarding their child and the threat of inclement weather.
• A parent may make a determination for their child, and the school corporation should respect the perspective of parent regarding their child.
• NPCS respects a parent’s determination regarding their child’s attendance at school during inclement weather.  If school is open, or delayed, because of inclement weather, the school will respect the parent’s decision to keep their child at home.  Parents are expected to contact the school and inform school officials of their determination. The student will be counted as absent, per state code, and students will be given an opportunity to complete their academic work in the same manner as an excused absence from school.
• NPCS believes the public expects schools to be open and to provide education, supervision, and other services (including meals) to its students when it is safe to do so.
• NPCS believes all parents are committed to keeping children safe, and these parents will dress their children appropriately for the weather when sending children to school.
• Variable weather conditions are to be expected in Central Indiana. The NPCS believes parents should have plans in place for weather-related delays and closures and believe morning notification of weather-related closures or delays is generally appropriate.

Fog

• Fog can be very tricky. Like all weather situations, the timing is critical. Fog can move in and blanket the area quickly. We will consider how greatly visibility is impacted and always consider student safety first. Decisions regarding fog delays will always be made in the morning. 

Freezing Rain/Sleet

• The most unpredictable weather variable is freezing rain/sleet.  Freezing rain/sleet is temperature-sensitive and occurs quickly.  It begins and ends with little notice.  When freezing rain/sleet are predicted, the decision regarding school is delayed until the latest possible time in an effort to observe the most current and local conditions.  Such a decision will generally be made in the morning.

Snowfall

• Snowfall is more predictable than freezing rain/sleet.  Meteorologists generally give a 2-inch variable when predicting snow accumulation.  Because of the variation in actual snowfall, when compared to predicted snowfall, the decision regarding school status is delayed until the snow accumulation indicates a need for action.  Such a decision, except in extreme situations, will generally be made in the morning.
• Roads will be driven by Corporation Officials around 4:00 am to determine the safety and drivability for school buses.

Extreme Snowfall Situations

• When snow has accumulated to a significant level, or is at such a level with more snowfall predicted, then the decision regarding school may be made the previous evening.  A significant level is one in which local authorities have indicated it is unlikely roads will be passable by the following morning.  This is an unlikely, but possible occurrence.
• Travel warnings and advisories will all be considered.

Extreme Cold

• Temperature prediction is increasingly accurate.  The NPCS uses the hourly temperature predictions for its zip code from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov).  If air temperature is predicted by NOAA to be -10 degrees or below (the starting point for wind chill concerns with calm wind) at 7:00 a.m. the school will consider a two-hour delay for the start of school.  If the air temperature is predicted to remain at -10 degrees or below at 9:00 a.m., the school will consider closing.  Such a determination will be made as early as possible, perhaps the evening before, but certainly by 6:00 a.m. in the morning.

Extreme Wind Chill

• Wind chill prediction is not as accurate as temperature prediction because wind speed is more variable by time and location.  While NOAA observations and predictions are based upon the open conditions of the Indianapolis Airport, these conditions are often different throughout Hancock County.  Local observations of wind speed will affect the decision regarding delaying or closing school.  Wind chill concerns emerge at a predicted wind chill temperature of -19 degrees. If wind chill is predicted by NOAA to be -19 degrees or below and local wind conditions are predicted to mirror the airport wind conditions at 7:00 a.m., the school will consider a two-hour delay for the start of school.  If the wind chill is predicted to remain at -19 degrees or below and local conditions mirror the airport wind conditions at 9:00 a.m., the school will consider closing.  The variability of wind speed will likely cause this decision to be made in the morning.
•  NOAA - Wind Chill Chart

Functional Facilities

• Utility issues (gas, electricity, water) may cause a school to close.  Issues associated with cold, including water supply to a building and electricity to a building or neighborhood, may cause school to be canceled.

Notification of closures or delays will be immediately disseminated through a variety of avenues:

• E-mails, messages, and phone calls through ParentSquare. Please be certain that your parent information is correct in PowerSchool or you may not receive these notifications.
• NPCS social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter.
• Local TV, including WTTV Ch. 4, WRTV Ch. 6, WISH-TV Ch. 8, WTHR Ch. 13, and WXIN Ch. 59.

Virtual Learning in New Palestine Community Schools consists of a synchronous (teacher and class together) experience in a virtual environment.

Teachers will implement the following expectations and procedures for Virtual Learning:

• At least 50% of day is teacher-led real-time instruction
  • Google Meet
  • Could include asynchronous activities (student completes a task on their own, separate from the Google Meet)

In the event that school is canceled and a Virtual Learning day is called, the following technical support phone number and email are available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for parents and/or students that are having technical problems:

Phone: 317-620-8204 ext. 8204
Email: techvirtual@newpal.k12.in.us

***A member of our staff will return your call or email as soon as possible on virtual days.  Our virtual line and email address are only monitored on virtual days from 8 am to 8 pm.