Emergency Closings
2022-2023 Emergency Closing Procedures
Dear Parent/Guardian:
With the approach of the inevitable Western NY winter I want to remind you of a few weather details. The decision to deviate from the usual school schedule is not one that I take lightly. Students and parents alike need the routine school provides, but there are occasionally times when safety issues dictate changes to that routine.
Closing messages are provided via the usual school communication channels including our calling/texting systems, our social media and website posts, and local television and radio station broadcasts. (Please be certain that your most current contact information is on file with your child's school office so that you will receive these important messages.) These resources should be checked for closings, delays, and early dismissals. Please do not call school offices for information these sources share. It is unlikely that your calls for information will get through to the office and your calls may delay emergency calls.
Note the following about the various changes to school schedules that may occur:
A delayed start to the school day is a two hour delay to the usual schedule. Continue to monitor delayed starts as they may turn into school closings if conditions warrant.
- Bus pick ups will be two hours later than usual.
- The student school day will begin two hours later than usual:
- Lockport High School 9:40
- LHS West at Charlotte Cross 10:00
- Aaron Mossell Junior High School 10:06
- Emmet Belknap Intermediate School 10:40
- K-4 Elementary Schools (Kelley, Upson, Southard, Merritt) 11 :20
- Morning BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) students will be delayed and report to their High School, not BOCES. They will be supervised until their afternoon classes begin.
- Morning Preschool Session classes will be cancelled. Afternoon classes will continue. Full day preschool classes will begin two hours late.
- Before school activities including clubs and intramurals will be cancelled.
- Class schedules within the building may be adjusted by Principals to accommodate the delay.
- Bagged breakfasts will be available, with lunch served as usual.
- YMCA and YWCA Before School Program are not LCSD programs. Families should follow the procedures in their handbooks for closings, delays, and early dismissals.
- Bussing provided for students who attend a school outside of the Lockport City School District will follow the out of district's school schedule.
An early release may be necessary if weather or other safety conditions develop during the day.
Afternoon and evening activities will be cancelled unless we announce otherwise. (It is a good practice to plan with your child and a reliable adult for this unlikely, but possible, scenario.)
A school closure will result in the cancellation of all Lockport City School District classes and activities unless we announce otherwise.
New York State Law requires a minimum of 180 days of instruction. The 2022-2023 approved calendar includes 4 emergency closing days. In the event we are closed more than 4 days, it may be necessary to use scheduled recess dates to meet our legal requirement.
Please review with your children the following important winter weather tips:
- Dress for the weather. Even students who ride busses may find that they are not as warm as your car (they are much larger spaces to heat) and a breakdown could result in a period with no heat.
- Allow a little extra time during bad weather for the bus to arrive. Drivers and other traffic may be slower than normal because of weather conditions. (The Stopfinder app in the Parent Directory on the District website may be helpful to you in these cases.)
- Stand back from the bus and other vehicles to allow for the possibility that they may slide on wet, snowy, or icy roads.
- Be alert for weather hazards. Snow piles make it harder for drivers to see students. Sidewalks and crosswalks may be more slick in bad weather. Be extra careful in bad weather.
Winter weather creates a great many challenges. Know that we try to disrupt established routines as little as possible-but will do so to ensure the safety of our students.
I wish you safe and healthy holiday and winter seasons and a successful remainder of the school year. Please know that I have enjoyed serving our district and participating in the school lives of our Lockport Lions. I am proud to add them to the memories of the many students I have been privileged to work with as an educator. I look forward to continuing to do so until the new Superintendent of Schools assumes the role, which is expected to be in March.
Sincerely,
Michael S. Bonnewell
Interim Superintendent of Schools