Dear Raider
Families,
We are coming upon that time of year when snow, ice and extreme cold may cause disruptions to school. We wanted to take some time to explain how we go about making decisions regarding closings, delays or as they are commonly known, “calamity days.”
We closely monitor the weather forecast and have provided
helpful links on our website (www.reyn.org) for snow and extremely cold temperatures throughout the winter
months. We also maintain communication with the local road crews and police,
and drive neighborhoods.
Whenever possible, the decision to close school will be made the
previous evening. However, closings may be announced as late as 6 a.m.
depending on a variety of factors.
When assessing the safety of the morning commute, our focus is on school transportation. Are the temperatures and wind chills causing a frost-bite risk for children waiting 15-30 minutes at school bus stops (generally about -15 to -20 degrees wind chill)? Can school bus drivers navigate their routes with proper traction and visibility? Is the timing of the weather event such that city crews will not have time to plow or treat main roads?
Parents, you know your children best. If you are concerned for your children's safety getting to and from school or activities, we respect your right to keep them home.
When Reynoldsburg City Schools CLOSE:
=
All evening activities in the
elementary and middle school buildings are cancelled.
=
High school evening activities may
take place depending on the weather throughout the day. Communication regarding
such events will be made by relevant coaches or advisors.
=
Preschool is cancelled.
=
Transportation to Eastland-Fairfield Career
Center is not provided.
=
Community groups scheduled to use
school facilities (e.g., Park and Rec, Scouts, etc.) will have their events
cancelled.
When the Reynoldsburg City Schools
DELAY:
=
AM kindergarten is cancelled.
=
AM preschool is cancelled.
=
Eastland-Fairfield Career Center morning
bus runs are cancelled.
When the decision to close school is made, we use multiple avenues to communicate. As technology is not always fool-proof, we rely on several messaging channels to alert the community of a delay or cancelation. Those channels include: notifying television and radio stations, posting on Twitter (@ReynSchools), Facebook (@reynschools), updating the website (www.reyn.org), sending emails and texts as well as making phone calls to families.
School closings or delays may appear first on my Twitter feed. You can follow me at @REYNSupt, but please know that while I appreciate good-natured tweets from students begging me for a day off, they play absolutely no factor in the decision making process. Also, Twitter posts from local weathermen making predictions about the chances of having a snow day are made to increase their social media traffic and have no bearing on our decision.
For more information about school policies, please visit www.reyn.org. To stay
up-to-date on school delays and cancellation alerts, check our website often
and follow the District and your schools on social media.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me
directly.
Sincerely,
Melvin J. Brown
Superintendent
Reynoldsburg City Schools