- Kingsway Regional School District
- Emergency Closings
Emergency Closings
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In the event that schools are closed on a school day due to inclement weather, a decision will be made in each instance as to who is expected to report to work. The information below should answer most questions about a school closing but at any time you have a question please contact Dr. Lavender’s office at (856) 467-4600, ext. 4205.
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How do we make the decision to close school?
Every weather-related event is different and it is near impossible to anticipate the severity of the weather or the conditions of a very large geographic area. We may close school due to severe weather such as a heavy snow fall or high winds or because of our inability to transport students due to icy conditions. There are dozens of potential scenarios that may result in a school closing or delayed opening and the conditions of our campus, busses, and local roads all influence this difficult decision. Dr. Lavender typically consults with the District’s Transportation Director, Facilities Supervisor, local Police Chiefs and area superintendents before making a final decision. It is not a perfect science and therefore we often rely on the weather forecast and when inclement weather appears imminent, a decision will be made.
Keep in mind that we take this decision very seriously and always prioritize the safety of our students and staff and will therefore always error on the side of caution. We recognize that a school closing may create a number of inconveniences for our families and apologize in advance for the trouble a difficult decision may cause. However, our goal is to ensure our students and staff remain safe and we will not compromise this important goal.
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How do I know if we are closed?
Dr. Lavender sends out communications through multiple means including a pre-recorded phone message through School Messenger to our faculty, staff, and families either the night before (whenever possible) or early in the morning (5 o’clock hour). We recognize some of our employees travel a distance so every effort is made to get this call out as soon as possible. Please note: It is important to listen to the entire message! Our parents/guardians are reminded to always keep their contact information current.
Dr. Lavender also sends out an email message to faculty and staff and posts our status on the District webpage and Facebook page. Please note: you should always look for multiple postings. Additionally, this information is announced on KYW News Radio (1060 AM), Channel 3 (CBS), Channel 6 (ABC), Channel 10 (NBC), and Fox 29. Though KYW and Channel 6 are typically the first two media outlets to announce our status. -
What about activities, athletics or outside groups?
In the event that we are closed, and unless stated otherwise in Dr. Lavender’s message, student activities, athletic events and/or outside groups who have scheduled use of the buildings (i.e. community basketball) are all canceled.
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Who does not report to school when school is closed?
In the event that school is closed the following people do not report to school: Students, Teachers, CST Professionals, School Counselors, Paraprofessionals, Secretaries, Food Service Workers, Bus Drivers/Bus Aides. Dr. Lavender’s message would state something like, “School is closed today to students, faculty & staff.”
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Who reports to school when school is closed?
Employee identification cards now have a designation on the bottom left that reads either Essential or Key. These designations are important for individual employees to know. If an employee does not have either designation on their identification card then they are considered a member of faculty or staff and not Essential or Key Personnel.- Essential Personnel: The following employee groups are designated Essential Personnel due to their responsibility to get schools open and buses running: Custodians, Maintenance, Mechanics, B&G Supervisor, Transportation Director, Superintendent, and the School Business Administrator. This group is expected to report regardless of the type of weather event or school closing unless stated otherwise in Dr. Lavender’s message.
- Key Personnel: The following employee groups are designated Key Personnel and may be required to work on days when school is closed to students, faculty & staff for inclement weather: Central Office Personnel, Technology Staff, and Principals, Supervisors and Deans of Students. This group should pay close attention to Dr. Lavender’s message as reporting times may vary depending on the nature of the weather event. For example, Dr. Lavender’s message may state something like, “School is closed today to students, faculty & staff but Key personnel are expected to report at 10:00 a.m.”
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815
School Closing Number