Weather Policy
Impact of Weather on Schools
Safety First
The district’s protocol for school closures due to inclement weather centers on the safety of students, staff, and parents. Decisions are informed by an assessment of transportation safety, the impact on families and instruction, and the operational status of essential utilities. District personnel survey road conditions and consult local authorities, submitting their findings to the superintendent, who makes the final determination regarding closures, delays, or early releases.
Weather Related Adjustments
Protocol
The district evaluates several critical factors when deciding whether to close schools due to inclement weather. These considerations include:
- The safety of students, staff, and parents
- The ability to safely transport students to and from school
- The disruptions caused to families and to classroom instruction when school is missed
Schools will remain closed if it is determined that buses cannot safely operate or if extended utility disruptions, such as electricity outages, render campuses unsafe or unsuitable for conducting classes.
To assess whether schools should be closed or delayed, district personnel will survey road conditions throughout the district, driving the streets as needed. They will also consult local authorities to gather relevant information. These findings will then be presented to the district superintendent, who makes the final decision regarding school closures, delayed openings, or early releases.
Every effort will be made to reach this determination the night prior or as early as possible in the morning, to allow families adequate time to prepare for closures or delayed starts. Waxahachie ISD will communicate the decision regarding school closures or modified schedules no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day affected.
In the event of school cancellations or delays, all after-school or evening activities will also be canceled unless explicitly authorized by a coach, sponsor, principal, or another district official.
Early Dismissal
In the event of deteriorating weather conditions during the school day, a decision may be made to dismiss students early. Parents will be informed promptly through email and text notifications via Parent Square. Principals and staff will remain on campus until all students have either been picked up by their guardians or departed on buses.
Make-Up Days
Notification
In the event of a school closure or delayed start due to inclement weather, families will be notified through the following channels:
- Updates will be posted on the official WISD Facebook page, which will serve as the primary source of information.
- An internal email will be sent to district staff.
- Email and text notifications will be distributed via Parent Square to all families and staff members with up-to-date contact information. Families are encouraged to log in to Skyward Family Access to ensure their contact details are current.
- The district will notify local media outlets, including KBEC (1390 AM, 99.1 FM), the Waxahachie Sun, and Dallas/Fort Worth television and radio stations such as FOX 4, ABC 8, NBC 5, and CBS 11.
Please note that no notification will be issued if the school day proceeds as scheduled.