Weather Emergencies

8220 School Day Administrative Guidelines

In the event of inclement weather conditions, the Superintendent of Schools shall communicate with the bus contractors, Oneida County Highway Department, Oneida County Sheriff's Department and a weather service. The Superintendent shall be contacted and presented with the data gathered from the above sources.  He/she shall make the final decision as to whether or not schools are to close. The line of authority for closing schools should the Superintendent not be available, will continue with the Assistant Superintendent-Pupil Services and/or any other person designated by the Superintendent of Schools.

The announcement of closing or delaying of school will be made via the local and surrounding radio and television media centers.  In addition if school is cancelled, an AlertNow phone message and email will be sent to all students' and employees' homes. Information will also be posted on the district's main page, www.rhinelander.k12.wi.us. 

School Cancelled All Day

1. All effort will be given to make a decision to close school by 5:30 a.m.

2. If cancellation follows a delayed start, the decision will be made by 8:00 a.m.

3. Staff shall not report except for custodial staff and 12-month secretarial and administrative staff.

4. After-school activities and team practices will be cancelled unless otherwise indicated by the Activities Director. The Activities Director will be responsible for notifying key individuals (i.e. officials, advisors, coaches, bus companies, Activities Directors of other districts) of cancellation of events.

Delayed Start

1. The decision will be made by 5:30 a.m.

2. A late start will automatically be a two-hour delay for both buses and school.

3. The high school will not run the early bird schedule.

4. Morning Early Childhood and Preschool Speech and Language classes will be cancelled.

5. Staff will report two hours later than their normal start time with the exception of the following staff who will report at their regular scheduled time:

a. Building principals
b. All building office and Administration Center clerical staff
c. Custodial staff
d. Food service employees

(Staff should make common sense judgments if traveling conditions are treacherous.)

Early Dismissal

1. All efforts will be made to announce a decision for early dismissal prior to 11:00 a.m.

2. Afternoon Early Childhood and Speech and Language classes will be cancelled

3. Staff will be dismissed after the students are dismissed, with the exception of the following staff:

a. Custodial staff
b. Elementary clerical staff (until all students are picked up)
c. Custodial staff
d. Food service employees

4. All after-school activities and team practices will be cancelled. The Activities Director will be responsible for notifying key individuals (i.e. officials, advisors, coaches, bus companies, Activities Directors of other districts) of cancelled events.

5. Decisions regarding participation in interscholastic events will be made by the Activities Director, the Building Principal and the Superintendent.

Exceptions

Should conditions improve, scheduled practices and events may be held on days when school has been cancelled prior to the school day starting, if approved by the activities director.

Emergency Procedures

Policy 8215 Emergency Procedures Administrative Guidelines

The primary consideration in any emergency situation must be the safety of the students and staff. At certain times, therefore, it may be necessary to ask the staff to perform beyond the call of duty in order to provide for the welfare of our students. In the event of an actual emergency situation, all school personnel, instructional and noninstructional, will be required to remain in the building until the principal dismisses them.

The release of any information to the media, news and/or the public during a crisis/emergency situation is the responsibility of the Board President, the Superintendent or his/her designee. During a crisis/ emergency situation, at no time is the media, news and/or the public allowed on District property. The media is not allowed to interview or approach any staff member, student, or parent on District property during a crisis/emergency situation. The
Board President and/or Superintendent or his/her designee will make statements to the media, news and/or public as appropriate and necessary in any crisis/emergency situation.

Evacuation - (Bomb threat or other emergency requiring evacuation)

1. When an emergency occurs that requires evacuation of a school building, the building principal, after communicating with city officials and the Superintendent of Schools, will determine if and how the building will be evacuated. An announcement will then be made to inform staff and students of the emergency procedures that will be followed.

2. If a decision is made to send students home or to a pre-selected site, attempts will be made to notify parents by telephone, and/or by radio or TV, and the public address system, ConnectEd, will be used to inform all teachers and students.

3. The 911 Center will be contacted immediately by the building principal or designee.

4. When the building is cleared, available staff, volunteers and other government agencies will conduct a search when requested by principal or designee.

5. Above all, it is imperative that all personnel remain calm and in control throughout the emergency.

6. In the event of an evacuation, students will be required to make up dismissed time.

Fire/Severe Weather Drill

1. In accordance with State law, fire drills are to be conducted periodically, not less than one (1) time each month. When the fire alarm sounds, students must immediately be quiet and listen for instructions. Every drill should be conducted as if there is an actual fire. Every person in the building must leave at the sound of the alarm. Directions posted in each room should be followed carefully so that everyone is assured of a safe exit. Each principal shall prepare and distribute fire drill procedures whereby:

a) All non-designated personnel leave the building during a drill.

b) The plan of evacuation provides at least one (1) alternative route in case exits or stairways are blocked.

c) When the fire alarm sounds, teachers caution students to walk silently and briskly from the building to a specified location, close all classroom windows and doors, and turn out lights, if possible, before leaving, check to make sure any disabled students requiring assistance are being assisted properly, and conduct roll call as soon as students are at the designated location to make sure that each student is accounted for.

d) A list is compiled of all disabled students in the building who will require assistance in exiting the building together with the assignment of a staff member or non-student volunteer in the student's classroom who will be responsible for providing necessary assistance in an appropriate manner. A
person should also be designated to assist a disabled student when the evacuation signal is given and s/he is in another area of the building such as the gym, all-purpose room, or lunchroom.

2. The principal shall document that each fire drill was conducted in a proper manner and submit such documentation to the Superintendent at the end of each school year.

3. Severe weather drills shall be conducted during the first ten (10) school days of school each year and Tornado Awareness Week each spring.