Emergency Closing

Snow covered cars parked on the side of an unplowed road

During periods of inclement weather or in emergency situations, our first priority is the safety and welfare of our students and staff. At the same time, the closing of school can be burdensome to families due to childcare and work schedules.

We consider any change to our normal protocol, to be an exception and we place a strong emphasis on keeping our schools open. Some of the primary factors that are considered when making a decision include:

Safety and well-being of students and staff
Severity of the weather (extreme cold, flooding, etc.)
Timing of the weather event
Ability of buses and cars to travel safely
Operable condition of our buildings

In instances when the temperature is severe, but weather conditions are normal, the district will implement our Severe Cold Plan. We encourage families to establish contingency plans for possible closures throughout the school year regardless of the season.

When the decision to cancel or close a school occurs, the district may choose one of two options.

Implement an e-Learning Day, where students will participate in asynchronous activities.
Implement a traditional emergency day that will be made up at the end of the school year.

Making the Decision

The Board of Education gives the superintendent the authority under Board of Education Policy 4:170: Safety and Security to determine the closure of a campus or the entire district, use of E-Learning Day or dismissal of school before normal dismissal time.

Any decision for a weather-related closure is made in collaboration with area superintendents, local municipalities, the district’s bus service provider and, if necessary, the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The district works collaboratively with feeder elementary districts 27, 28, 30, 31 and 34 on school closings and will keep them informed on late arrival or early dismissal actions. It is our goal to make decisions with the needs of families in mind. There are times, however, when Glenbrook High School District 225 may need to make a decision based on the existing conditions.

Whenever a decision is made to cancel school or alter the school day, it is based on the general safety conditions for all students and staff. The district recognizes that conditions may vary for each individual student or family. If you feel that it is unsafe to send your student to school, please contact the school attendance office and the student will be given an excused absence.

The district uses the National Weather Service (NWS) as the primary meteorological source to determine and declare weather conditions such as snow forecasts, wind-chill advisories or wind-chill warnings.

Scenarios

Full Closure of District 225 Buildings and Cancelation of Programs

In extreme conditions or due to large-scale damage, the superintendent may close all buildings and cancel classes and all events.

All after-school activities, practices, and field trips will be canceled unless communicated otherwise.
All student events will be canceled unless communicated otherwise.
Athletic events and practices will be canceled unless specifically announced.
Alliance for Lifelong Learning (Oakton College) – Classes will be canceled.
Non-district events that have event contracts to use district facilities will be cancelled unless announced by the school principal

E-Learning Day

When a day is converted to an e-Learning Day, per our state approved plan, students will be given asynchronous assignments to complete during the e-Learning Day allowing them the flexibility to demonstrate their learning on their own timelines. Specifically:

Class assignments will be posted to Google Classroom by 9:00 a.m., giving students the flexibility to complete assignments in any order and at whatever pace is appropriate for them during the day.
Teachers are available for students via district communication tools between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Students will have until the next in-person class with their teacher to complete work that is assigned during the asynchronous Emergency e-Learning Day.
Student attendance on the asynchronous Emergency E-Learning Day will count as a regularly sanctioned attendance day for all students. To be marked present, students must complete the Student Emergency E-Learning Check-in on Google Classroom posted in each of their courses.

Early Dismissal

Communication of Decision

In the event of a weather-related or emergency closing, the district will use the following communication methods:

District Website – glenbrook225.org
Building Social Media Accounts
District Mass Notification System
WGN’s Emergency Closings website,
Mass media including major radio and TV sources

It is important for families to ensure their contact information is up to date. To review the contact information on file with the district, log into your PowerSchool Account and select the verification icon for the current school year. If you need to make changes to the contact information, please complete the parent/guardian and emergency contact update request form.

Severe Cold Plan

In instances when the temperature is severe, but weather conditions are normal, the district may choose to implement our Severe Cold Plan. We encourage families to establish contingency plans for possible closures throughout the school year regardless of the season. View the National Weather Service extreme cold renaming document.

Cold Weather Advisory: Schools Will be Open

A cold weather advisory is issued when conditions do not meet the extreme cold warning criteria but still cause significant inconvenience. The weather during a cold weather advisory is not life-threatening but presents conditions that may cause inconvenience or pose a moderate risk to safety. A cold weather advisory is typically issued when the wind chill is -20°F to -29°F WITH wind speeds of 10 mph or greater, OR the actual temperature is -5°F to -14°F.

Schools will be open and student attendance is expected.
Extracurricular activities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be suspended if conditions persist.
All off-site activities during the school day will be suspended (this includes but is not limited to: all off-site daytime programs, field trips, and work programs).
Scheduled student transports between buildings will be assessed.
All outside student activities will be suspended.
Curricular aquatics activities will be suspended.
All classroom lab-based activities that have the potential to trigger a fire or smoke alarm activation will be reevaluated or rescheduled. Communication and coordination with the impacted departments will be conducted by the building administration.
Students will be allowed to keep outerwear with them while in the building.

Severe Cold School Closure Day: Extreme Cold Warning

Schools will be closed under the condition of a extreme cold warning. An extreme cold warning indicates that life-threatening conditions and a risk to safety exist. Measures should be taken to safeguard life and property immediately. An extreme cold warning is typically issued when the wind-chill will be -30°F or less WITH wind speeds 10 mph or greater OR the actual temperature -15°F or colder.

Classes will be canceled and school closure protocols will be instituted.
Extracurricular activities will be canceled.