2020-2021 Inclement Weather Protocols

Thu, 12/03/2020 - 11:34am


The implementation of virtual instruction has changed the way the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will manage inclement weather days. In prior years, inclement weather delays and closings have resulted in scheduling challenges and instructional disruption for students, staff and families, as well as unpredictability about when the school year will end.
 

For the 2020-2021 school year, while in virtual, small groups or hybrid instructional models, HCPSS will transition to fully virtual instruction during inclement weather days. This will allow the school system to make a decision earlier when inclement weather is expected and provide families with earlier notice so they may make necessary adjustments. The Maryland State Department of Education has approved the inclusion of virtual instruction days among the 180 minimum required academic days each school year, so these days will not have to be made up at the end of the school year.

Four possible inclement weather decisions are provided below. For the 2020-2021 school year, there no longer will be an option for a 2-hour delay. Instead, HCPSS will transition to virtual learning on those days.

On inclement weather days that virtual instruction is implemented, the same virtual schedule will be implemented that has been in place for the entirety of the 2020-2021 school year. Students will be expected to log in to each of their classes and attendance will be recorded. To provide consistency and remain aligned to current virtual instructional schedules, instruction will be synchronous on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and asynchronous on Wednesday.
It is important to note that the primary purpose for closing schools is for safety. Cancelling all instruction on inclement weather days would require make-up days to be used in the summer. By being able to use virtual instruction during inclement weather days, HCPSS will be able to follow the academic calendar as scheduled. This will allow staff better flexibility to implement summer interventions without disruption for students requiring the additional academic support.

The full list of weather status codes is available on the HCPSS Status website. 

 

2020-2021 Inclement Weather Options:

Virtual Instruction; Buildings Open
This option will include minor weather events that are deemed not significant enough to close the building for staff. This option allows HCPSS to make the decision and provide notification to families and staff much earlier without having to make up a day of instruction at the end of the school year.

  • Instruction: Virtual for all students
  • Meal Service: No morning service; Lunch available for pickup, as scheduled
  • Buildings: Open for staff
  • Athletics: As scheduled
  • Staff:
    • All employees (other than Food/Nutrition Services) report virtually or in their building/office on time, as scheduled or as directed by their supervisor. Instructional staff have the option of teaching from their classroom or virtually.
    • Food/Nutrition Services: Employees report to work as directed by their supervisors for lunch shift.

Virtual Instruction; Buildings Closed
This option will include weather events that may have closed school in years past. Similar to the Virtual Instruction; Buildings Open option, all instruction will be delivered virtually resulting in an approved academic day.

  • Instruction: Virtual for all students
  • Meal Service: Canceled
  • Buildings: Closed
  • Athletics: Canceled
  • Staff:
    • All employees (other than groups listed below) report virtually on time.
    • AFSCME: Report as scheduled.
    • AMT: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
    • 5th Unit: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
    • Food/Nutrition Services: Employees do not report to work.

No Instruction; Buildings Closed
This option mirrors a typical inclement weather day when schools and offices are closed. This decision may be implemented at times of widespread internet or power outages when virtual instruction is not feasible. These days would potentially need to be made up at the end of the school year.

  • Instruction: Canceled
  • Meal Service: Canceled
  • Buildings: Closed
  • Athletics: Canceled
  • Staff:
    • AFSCME: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.AMT: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
    • 5th Unit: Emergency employees report as directed by their supervisors.
    • All other HCPSS employees are off and may not enter an HCPSS facility.

Early Closing
This option would be implemented when an unexpected weather event occurs while students may be in school buildings (small groups, hybrid, etc.). During an early closing, instruction would end early (90-minutes or 3-hours) for all students, including those learning virtually.

  • Instruction: Virtual and in-person ends early
  • Meal Service: May end early
  • Buildings: Closed early for all
  • Athletics: Canceled
  • Staff:
    • AFSCME: First shift employees may leave 1 hour early; Second shift employees may report 1 hour late.
    • AMT: Emergency employees may leave as directed by their supervisors.
    • AMT: Employees may end their work day 30 minutes after the end time of the latest school. For a 3-hour early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 1:15 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 2:45 p.m.
    • ESP School-Based: Employees may end their work day 30 minutes after the end of the student day. Interpreters may end their work day at the same time as students.
    • ESP Non-School-Based: Employees may end their work day 30 minutes after the end time of the latest school. For a 3-hour early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 1:15 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 2:45 p.m.
    • Food/Nutrition Services: Employees may leave 30 minutes after the end of the student day or when all tasks related to early dismissal have been completed.
    • HCAA School-Based: Principals or designated administrator shall remain on duty until:
      • All students have left school grounds.
      • There are no reports of buses unable to complete routes.
      • Non-essential staff have been dismissed.
      • Administrative tasks relative to early dismissal have been completed.
      • The principal may, at their discretion, release other administrators and AAM's based on the situation at their school.
    • HCAA Non-School-Based: Employees may end their work day 30 minutes after the end time of the latest school. For a 3-hour early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 1:15 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 2:45 p.m.
    • HCEA 10- and 11-month: Teachers may end their work day [3 hours earlier/90-minutes earlier] than their regular end time.
    • HCEA 12-month: Employees may end their work day 30 minutes after the end time of the latest school. For a 3-hour early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 1:15 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 2:45 p.m.
    • 5th Unit Emergency: Emergency employees may leave as directed by their supervisors.
    • 5th Unit School-Based: Employees may end their work day 30 minutes after the end of the student day. Interpreters may end their work day at the same time as students.
    • 5th Unit Non-School Based: Employees may end their work day 30 minutes after the end time of the latest school. For a 3-hour early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 1:15 p.m. For a 90-minute early dismissal, employees may end their work day at 2:45 p.m.