Weather- Related School Closure
All students, parents, and school employees should assume that school will be in session and buses running as scheduled unless there is official notification from the Executive Director to the contrary. Such notice will be given via public media. School may operate on a late schedule if emergency conditions are temporary, or, may be dismissed early in the day if emergency conditions develop. The radio stations will be notified of any of these conditions and requested to announce them to the community.
In the event that extremely cold temperatures, wind chill factors, snow, wind, or other circumstances require a modification of the normal routine, the Executive Director will make the modification decision prior to 6:00 AM, contact the public radio stations for broadcast to the community, and initiate the emergency fan-out communication procedure to all administrators.
OR
School closure decisions are made by the Kimberly School District’s Superintendent and will be broadcast via local radio and televisions stations. RISE Charter School will follow the decision of the Kimberly School District for school closures due to inclement weather. If the Executive Director makes an independent decision to either close or keep open RISE Charter School, parents and students will be specifically notified via all-call and social media.
Work Schedules and Responsibilities for School Closure
Executive Director: Only the Executive Director shall have the authority to close RISE Charter School. The Executive Director will be on duty throughout any existing or potential emergency situation, day or night. All orders that are of doubtful origin should be confirmed with the Executive Director.
Non-Teaching “Exempt” Personnel, and Key Support Staff: All non-teaching “exempt” personnel shall report for duty per their normal shifts or as otherwise directed each day during the school closure, together with the head custodian and at least one secretary, insofar as is safely possible. The Executive Director shall ascertain that the building has been adequately secured and that any child who mistakenly reports to school, in the event that school has been closed, is properly and safely cared for and returned home. The Executive Director and this minimal support staff shall notify other staff and/or other support employees of the situation, and shall respond to telephone questions. When the situation has been stabilized, the personnel who reported to work may choose to return home. An administrator or exempt employee who does not work a normal day shall then adjust his or her work year by memorandum to the Executive Director by the number of hours not worked on the day or days of school closure.
12-Month Classified Employees: In the event of a school closure, 12 month classified personnel may report for duty or not report for duty, as directed by their immediate supervisor or the Executive Director. Building secretaries who are required to be on duty are expected to report for duty. If a 12 month classified employee is unable to or does not report for duty, the employee shall complete a leave request form to declare the day as either personal leave, vacation, or leave without pay.
10- and 11-Month Classified Employees: Ten and 11 month employees may report for duty or not report for duty as directed by their immediate supervisor or the Executive Director. If such employees do not report for duty, they shall complete a leave request form to declare the day as either personal leave, vacation, or leave without pay.
Aides, Food Service Workers, and Other 9-Month Classified Employees: These employees work only those days when school is in session and are not expected to work when school is not in session. If school has been closed, nine month employees should not report for duty unless otherwise directed by their immediate supervisor or the Executive Director. Nine month employees shall complete a leave request form to declare the day as either personal leave, vacation, or leave without pay.
Teacher, Librarians, Psychologists, and Counselors: If schools are closed for weather or other emergency conditions, teachers are not expected to report for duty unless directed otherwise. Teachers do not need to submit an absence form. In cases of school closures, it is customary for the days to be made up at another time; thus teachers will typically still fulfill their contract days.
Procedure History:
Promulgated on: June 14, 2021
Revised on:
Reviewed on: