Hello Parents & Guardians!

Thanks for taking the time to read another update from the School District of Howards Grove! I thought it would be great timing to talk a little bit about snowy weather and school closures.

Have you ever wondered how school districts determine whether to cancel school due to weather? As you may know, school districts across Southeastern Wisconsin canceled school today due to the impending snow storm. All of the schools in Sheboygan County remained open. Each time a snow storm or inclement weather is in the forecast, the National Weather Service holds live webinars that school district administrators join in and view the latest radar maps and are allowed time for question and answer. For this current snow storm, a webinar was held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday and another one at 3:45 AM this morning. Following the webinar, the Sheboygan County Superintendents all collaborate on a group text to discuss the forecast and attempt to make a joint decision. Due to the lake effect snow concerns and accumulation that is expected later in the day, we will also stay in touch to see if an early release is needed or if afterschool activities would need to be canceled. Once a cancellation or decision has been made, all families would get a Skyward email message. In addition, our Facebook page would have a weather posting. Finally, all the local television stations get the information to post on their scrolling screens as well.

We consistently do our best to make the best decision with a priority of safety and a desire to keep students in school whenever possible. Since we've already had a closure this year, we are paying close attention to the number of minutes we are required to hold school required by the Department of Public Instruction and will monitor our school calendar for any potential make up days. We currently do not need to make up the day we canceled in December, but further cancellations may result in a snow make up day.

Check out the map below which shows today's anticipated snow totals.

I hope this information is helpful in understanding our decision making process.

Have a great day and enjoy the snow, if we get any in Howards Grove.

Sincerely,

Shannon Kilton

Superintendent of Schools

Screening dates for all Howards Grove School District children who will be three or four years old by September 1, 2023 have been scheduled for March 6 and 7 at Northview Elementary School. Children who wish to attend Junior Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year must be four years old before September 1, 2023, for school admittance.

Letters explaining the screening process will be mailed to families based on the school census information. Communication, vision and hearing screenings, motor skills, problem solving, and personal-social skills will be assessed by the professional educational staff at the screening.

Parents are reminded to complete the questionnaire with the mailing and return it to Northview before March 6. If any parents of a three- or four-year-old child living within the Howards Grove School District does not receive their informational letter by February 1, they are asked to call the Northview Elementary School office at 920-565-4457.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 20 at 6:00 PM in the high school library.

In person visitors are welcome, but we also have a virtual link each month.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96296511830?pwd=QVhxNWpmSUNYbnlWbXdNNWZKdjgyQT09