Safety & Security

One of the primary goals of the Weld Re-5J School District is to protect the safety and well-being of every student. When severe weather conditions develop, a decision to close school will only be made after carefully considering a number of factors including information from area weather reports, county roads department, and the Colorado Highway Patrol.

When weather conditions make traveling hazardous, schools may not open as scheduled or may close early. The decision to close school will be made as early as possible, preferably by 6:00 a.m. by the superintendent in consultation with the director of transportation. Television stations will be notified immediately after the decision is made so that students, parents, and staff are promptly informed. Parents will also receive an automated phone message notifying them of a school closure.

When maintaining the regular schedule might result in large numbers of students being unable to return home safely, or the school buildings have lost power, school may be dismissed early. Every effort will be made to follow the regular end-of-the-day dismissal schedule since changing that schedule can cause confusion for parents and students.

Bus transportation is an important factor in determining whether school should be closed or an early dismissal to be ordered. Bus drivers are trained to watch that children are able to enter their residence. If the house is locked, the child is to return to the bus and continue on the route back to the bus barn. Of equal concern in making an early closing decision, are the students who reside in town. If dismissed from school they may have several blocks to walk in severe weather and then arrive at their home that could be locked. Without supervision, they may not know what to do and be stranded outside.

Parents are ultimately responsible for their children and should decide for their own family whether their children should attend during inclement weather or be withdrawn from school prior to the regular dismissal time. We encourage parents to decide what is best for their family when the weather is severe. Students, who leave school early, are as always, to sign out through their building’s office after the secretary has spoken to a parent. Parents picking up children are to come to the office and wait for their children who still are to sign out before leaving. This provides assurance that the early departure is authorized and that the child will be as safe as possible. Parents who choose to keep their children at home due to inclement school are asked to call the school office so the staff knows that the child is where they belong and are safe. The procedures also help the school secretaries crosscheck to know who is in school should staff need to call families as they do for all absences.

All school and athletic activities are usually canceled when schools are closed or dismissed early because of inclement weather. Community activities planned for a building that is closed due to these circumstances are also usually canceled for the safety of the community and the district staff.