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District

Closures, Delays and Synchronous Learning

Guidelines for School Delays and Closures

At Northwest Allen County Schools (NACS), the safety of our students is our top priority. We understand that weather conditions in northeast Indiana can be both variable and extreme. While there are no concrete rules for making decisions about school delays or closures, the following guidelines reflect our beliefs:

  • Safety First: The safety of our children will guide all decisions regarding delays or closures.
  • Guidelines Over Rules: While no strict rules exist, these guidelines will help inform our decisions.
  • Keeping Schools Open: Whenever possible, we aim to keep schools open to provide educational services, supervision, and essential resources such as breakfast and lunch.
  • Parental Responsibility: We trust that parents will dress their children appropriately for the weather conditions when sending them to school.
  • Parental Decision: Ultimately, it is a parent's decision whether their child should attend school on days with inclement weather.
  • Respecting Decisions: NACS respects each parent's choice regarding their child's attendance during extreme weather. If parents decide to keep their child at home, they should inform the school. The absence will be recorded according to Indiana code, and students will be given the opportunity to make up missed work.

We are committed to supporting our students and families by balancing the need for safety with the importance of maintaining educational services.

Synchronous Learning Schedule:

  • Elementary School:  9:30 a.m. – Noon
  • Middle School:  9:00 a.m. – 12:55 p.m.
  • High School:  9:00 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.

(Middle and High School students will follow class schedules that mirror their normal daily schedule.)

 

Tech Support:

If your child faces technical difficulties, please call our HelpDesk at 260-338-5320.

Synchronous Learning Support

  • If your child faces technical difficulties, please call our tech office at 260-338-5320.

  • Special education and ELL staff members will attend live sessions to support students much like they do during an on-site school day. Students will receive the support and services in their IEP/ILP as appropriate for the synchronous environment. Additionally, office hours will be provided in the afternoon of synchronous learning days to provide additional support to students. Students with more intensive services or modifications may be provided with alternative options for accessing services/support.

  • Synchronous lessons and activities will be recorded and posted so that students who are unable to attend live sessions may access this information at a later time. Flexibility and extended time will be provided to students who are unable to access the live instruction.

  • Students will attend live class sessions through Google Meet. Teachers will post their Google Meet links on their Canvas pages along with all other applicable information for the day of virtual instruction.

  • Elementary School: 9:30 a.m. - Noon

    Middle School: 9:00 a.m. - 12:55 p.m. (Middle and high school students will follow class schedules that mirror their normal daily schedules.)

    High School: 9:00 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. (Middle and high school students will follow class schedules that mirror their normal daily schedules.)

FAQ

  • Synchronous Learning
    In the event that we need to cancel our regular school day, Northwest Allen County Schools will be implementing synchronous learning. This means that we will be providing live instruction to students on days when we are unable to attend onsite.

    Students will attend live class sessions through Google Meet. Teachers will post their Google Meet links on their Canvas pages, along with all other applicable information for the day of virtual instruction.

    The daily schedules for live instruction at each level of learning are provided below:

    • Elementary: 9:30am-Noon
    • Middle School: 9:00am-12:55pm
    • High School: 9:00am-12:25pm 

    The expectations for students will be that they are actively attending live sessions on synchronous learning days. Having stated this, we do understand that situations arise that do not make this possible, and flexibility and alternatives will be provided to students when necessary. 

  • Synchronous Learning and Make-up Days

    Indiana statute requires 180 days of instruction. To comply with Indiana statute, each school closing will result in a synchronous learning day. 

    In the event that we need to cancel a regular school day due to inclement weather or another emergency, Northwest Allen County Schools will be implementing synchronous learning. This means that we will be providing live, online instruction to students on days when we are unable to hold classes on-site.

    This approach is designed to better serve students and keep learning moving forward in a way that is more productive and engaging than simply posting videos or lessons for students to complete on their own.

    Based on feedback from our families, we no longer have make-up days built into our calendar. Synchronous learning gives us the flexibility to offer school without the need to extend the end of the year with make-up days.

    • Elementary School:  9:30 a.m. – Noon
    • Middle School:  9:00 a.m. – 12:55 p.m.
    • High School:  9:00 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.

    (Middle and High School students will follow class schedules that mirror their normal daily schedule.)

  • Communication

    • On a typical school day, a delay and/or closing will be announced no later than 6:30 a.m.
    • Following a delay, if the need to close should arise, it will be announced no later than 8:30 a.m.

    Messages will be shared on…

    • The district’s social media accounts:
      •  X (@NWAllenSchoolsFW)
      • Facebook
      • Instagram (nwallencountyschools)  
    • ParentSquare
      • Email
      • Text
      • App Notification
    • The district’s website at www.nacs.k12.in.us.
    • Media outlets that are contacted and informed of the delay/close decision include:
      • WANE TV – Channel 15
      • WPTA TV – Channel 21
      • WOWO Radio – 92.3 FM / 1190 AM
      • WFFT TV – Channel 55
      • The Journal Gazette

     

    Have you registered your ParentSquare account?

    Go to the ParentSquare website and login using the email address you provided the school during registration. You can find ParentSquare resources on our Communications page.

     

  • Delaying or Closing School Is Based on Multiple Variables

    The need for driving slower and allowing additional travel time does not necessarily indicate that conditions are unsafe for travel to or from school. It is understood that varying interpretations and opinions exist regarding “right” decisions to close, delay, or dismiss early. Before a decision is made, as much information is gathered as possible, and it is made within the beliefs communicated on the previous page of this document. 

    NACS decisions about whether school will be closed for the entire day, delayed, or closed early is influenced by our buses ability to safely transport students. NACS recognizes that it's first and foremost a parental decision to determine if a child should attend school on inclement weather days.

    NACS is comprised of three townships spanning about 108 square miles of northwestern Allen County; it is possible that one part of the district is experiencing safe conditions, while another part is not. Likewise, it is possible for other school districts to be experiencing different weather/road conditions than those within NACS. To prepare for the possibility of delayed schedules or school closings because of weather/road conditions, please develop alternate plans for childcare. Alternate childcare plans should accommodate the possibility of:

    (a) school closing for the entire day;

    (b) a delay schedule being implemented; and

    (c) the early dismissal of school.

    Delays and Early Dismissals

    Delay schedules are typically two hours in length because a two-hour delay does not disrupt the end of the day schedule and does not create the need for a make-up day. Likewise, the earliest school can be dismissed without creating a need to make-up the day is two hours. 

  • Freezing Rain/Sleet and Dense Fog

    The most unpredictable weather variables are freezing rain/sleet and dense fog. Freezing rain/sleet is temperature sensitive and, like dense fog, may be fast occurring; typically, each begins and ends with little notice. When freezing/rain sleet are predicted or when dense fog appears, the decision regarding whether school is delayed, closed, or on a normal schedule will occur at the latest possible time to observe the most current and local conditions.

    Snowfall

    Snowfall is more predictable than freezing rain/sleet. Because of the variance in actual snowfall when compared to predicted snowfall, the decision regarding school status is not determined until snow accumulation indicates a need for action. Such a decision, except in extreme situations, will generally be made in the morning.

    Extreme Snowfall Situations

    When snow accumulates to significant levels, or is at such a level with more snowfall predicted, then a decision regarding school delay/closing may be made the previous evening. A significant level is one in which local city, county, or state authorities have communicated directly with us that it is unlikely for streets, roads, or highways to be cleared and passable the following morning.

    Extreme Cold (see included chart from the National Weather Service)

    • Temperature prediction is increasingly more accurate. NACS uses the hourly temperature predictions for its zip codes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov – we check conditions from both Fort Wayne International and DeKalb County airports). NACS also uses the Wind Chill Chart provided by the National Weather Service (included with these guidelines) showing when frostbite becomes a concern if bare skin is exposed to frigid temperatures for varying amounts of time.
    • If the air temperature, as predicted by NOAA, is expected to be –10 degrees Fahrenheit or colder at 6:30 a.m., then a two-hour delay may be considered in order to ensure that all buses start and do not experience mechanical difficulties. If the air temperature remains at –10 degrees Fahrenheit or colder at 8:30 a.m., then school may be closed depending on how our buses are responding mechanically. Such a determination will be made as early as possible, including the possibility of making and reporting such a determination the previous evening.

    Extreme Wind Chill (see included chart from the National Weather Service)

    Wind chill predictions are not as accurate as temperature predictions because of the additional variable of wind speed and the variances in wind speed by time and location. While NOAA observations and predictions that we receive are based upon the open conditions at Fort Wayne International and DeKalb County airports, these conditions can vary from actual conditions within the district. Wind chills in areas that are protected from the open winds, such as conditions typically seen in areas with many building structures, like a subdivision, have actual wind chill temperatures less than what is reported in the open conditions present at each of the referenced airports. Local observations will affect the decision regarding delaying or closing school.

    Based on the Wind Chill Chart provided by NOAA and the National Weather Service, concerns emerge when wind chill temperatures are at or near –20 degrees Fahrenheit with 30 minutes or more of exposure. Since our walking zones are less than 30 minutes, with nearly all being less than 15 minutes, wind chills warmer than –20 degrees Fahrenheit will typically result in remaining on time or open. Wind chill temperatures consistently colder than –30 degrees Fahrenheit we will likely result in a delay or closure. When wind chills are between these two extremes, then the decision will be made as late as possible to gather as much information as possible about local conditions.

    Wind Chill Chart

  • Parents with questions regarding school delays, closures, or any other concerns are encouraged to contact the district office. In most cases, the district office remains open even during school closures. Our staff is available to assist you and provide any necessary information.

    260-637-3155