Emergency, inclement weather procedures

  • Published
  • By Staff Agency Reports
  • Laramie County School District 1
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The Laramie County School District 1 staff notifies the media of closures for our school district and St. Mary's, using phone calls and ShoutPoint Messenger, our automated rapid notification system that sends phone, e-mail and text messages. In addition, information on closures is posted on the district website at http://www.laramie1.org and our Facebook page.

This procedure applies to the closure of school before the day begins, the closure of school during the day, a two-hour delay opening of schools, rural school guidelines and rural bus operation guidelines. The media is one of our primary methods for getting the word out about inclement-weather school closures. If you do not receive a call, please continue normal routines as school is in session. The only time that media will receive a call is when school has been canceled.

Student and staff safety is always the first consideration. However, there shall be an attempt to achieve the majority of a day's operation whenever possible. Situations that cause school closures fall into two general categories -- when school is in session and when it is not in session.

School closures when school is not in session
Whenever possible, a decision will be made the evening before a closure, and every attempt made to announce the closure on all television and radio broadcasts by 10 p.m. If it is not possible to make a decision at this time, an announcement will be made the next day by 5:30 a.m.

Two-hour delay opening
If weather conditions or time constraints prevent making a decision regarding the cancellation of school by 5:30 a.m., a two-hour delay may be initiated to allow time to make a final determination regarding school closures. This two-hour delay will be effective for all schools and all students.

School Closures when School is in Session
Schools are dismissed in the same order they begin that day.

Rural Schools
In the event Gilchrist, Willadsen or Clawson is the only schools closed, LCSD1 will notify the media. In this case, parents should tune in to local media or visit the district website to find out if their rural school has been closed. ShoutPoint Messenger will not be used to call parents.

Rural bus operation in inclement weather
During inclement weather, district buses will not be provided outside of the following boundaries:

· West of Interstate-25 from the Colorado border to U.S. Highway 85: with the exceptions of Warren Air Force Base and Western Hills subdivision west of I-25, south of Vandehei Boulevard and north of U.S. Hwy. 85.

· North of Four Mile Road extending to U.S. Highway 85, west to I-25 and east to Whitney Road (or an imaginary line extending Whitney Road) on the east.

· East of Whitney Road (or a line extending Whitney Road) to where it intersects with U.S. Highway 85 on the north and south to the Colorado border, and then south of Speedway Drive (or a line extending Speedway Drive) west to I-25 and east to Whitney Road (or a line extending Whitney Road to the south).

During these conditions, parents who transport their children to school in the morning will be responsible for providing transportation home in the afternoon.

ShoutPoint messenger
LCSD1's rapid notification system, ShoutPoint Messenger, allows the district to notify parents, employees, community members and the media of emergency situations and school closures due to inclement weather. ShoutPoint notices are sent via phone, e-mail and text as selected by the parent.
Inclement Weather Procedures
  • The decision to close school, state, city or county offices is not taken lightly. Closure decisions are based on a variety of factors - including reports from the National Weather Service and first-hand accounts from many different employees who report on the road and weather conditions.
  • These closure decisions are a collaborative effort of officials from the City of Cheyenne, Laramie County, the State of Wyoming, F.E. Warren Air Force Base and Laramie County School District 1.
  • It is the intent and long-standing practice of all agencies to remain open as long as roads are open and passable. 
  • However, since road conditions vary a great deal in different areas of Laramie County, it is difficult for agencies to make one decision that is right for everyone. Therefore, individual patrons are encouraged to make their own personal safety decisions based on the road conditions in their area. School children will be given excused absences if a parent feels their route to school is not safe when their school is open. Employees also may make their own decisions, subject to their agency's personnel policies.
  • Weather is one of the special challenges that makes Wyoming a unique and wonderful place to live. When the roads are open and passable, our state, city, county and school buildings will be open for business. Please make the best and safest decision for your family and yourself!