District Delay Closure Procedures
Delays and Closures
- Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal
- Click the profile icon
- Click "Settings"
- Click "Contact Preferences"
- In rows Priority" and "Emergency" select "Text (SMS)"
- Click "Save" at the bottom of the screen.
Delayed Start and Closure Procedures
School Closure
When all BSD29J schools are closed:
- All BSD29J schools are closed, including preschool.
- All programs, activities, and athletic events/ practices are cancelled for the day and evening.
- All BSD29J facilities and Transportation, are closed.
Delayed Start
BSD29J will announce Delayed Start: All Schools will begin at 10:00am and end at 4:30pm
Delayed Start
- All BSD29J schools will start at 10am and all bus routes will run two hours later in the morning.
- No morning preschool -students in the afternoon preschool classes will start at normal times.
Remember:
- Walkers and those who use private transportation should plan to be at school at the delayed start times – not before.
- All levels except for afternoon preschool will be dismissed at 4:30pm, unless notified otherwise.
- Please note: During inclement weather, bus pickups and drop offs may be delayed.
After School Activities Cancellation Procedures
If weather conditions are predicted to worsen significantly throughout the day, it may be necessary to cancel after-school activities in order to keep students and staff safe. In an effort to best meet the needs of individual schools, sometimes each school will determine if after-school activities and events should be cancelled, and schools will communicate with parents.
If the decision is made to cancel after-school activities Districtwide:
- The decision will be made by 2 p.m. if possible.
- All activities, athletic practices, games, and events will be cancelled.
BSD29J will communicate a districtwide after-school activity cancellation through text and email.
Early Dismissal Procedures
Bennett School District 29J makes decisions based on weather projections, traffic, and road conditions. Every effort will be made to avoid an early dismissal.
FAQs About Weather-Related Delays & Closures in Bennett School District
How are decisions made about weather-related school closures?
The decision to close school, delay the start of school, or to release school early because of weather conditions is based on one factor: the safety of all students and staff.
Bennett School District makes every effort to announce delay and closure information as early as 5 a.m. But, the process leading up to these decisions actually begins the night before. Transportation, Operations, and other personnel are out driving the roads in the district and consulting with various weather services as early as 3 a.m. As much information as possible is gathered from the following agencies prior to making a decision:
- Private weather forecasting services
- Colorado Department of Transportation
- Local and state law enforcement agencies
- Transportation officials across the metro area
Unsafe road conditions due to snow and ice are certainly factors in making a determination, but they are not the only ones. Temperature is also taken into consideration. Extreme temperatures are unsafe for everyone, especially children who must wait at bus stops or walk to school.
Why do some school districts stay open and others close on snowy days?
It is not uncommon for weather and traffic conditions to vary greatly from one community to another. For example, Bennett School District is located on the eastern plains and typically experiences the same weather and traffic conditions as Strasburg and Byers School Districts. Weather and traffic conditions in the Cherry Creek, Douglas County and Aurora school districts can be different than weather and traffic conditions in the Bennett School District.
When are decisions made about school closures?
Typically, the decision to delay or cancel can be made before 5:00 a.m. and appropriate announcements are made through the district website and local media between 5:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
What about school bus transportation when the weather is bad?
In bad weather, buses may run late for a variety of reasons. Prepare your child, in suitable clothing, to wait additional time at the bus stop (usually less than 15 minutes). District transportation staff work very hard to pick up all students on time, but sometimes road conditions and traffic make this difficult. We ask that parents and their children be prepared for buses to run late on inclement weather days.
How can I make sure my student is safe?
Parents always have the right and the responsibility to do what is best for their children. The option to keep children home when weather conditions are extreme is always at the parents' discretion and the school understands and respects the decision.
Parents are urged to make arrangements at the beginning of each school year for their children in case of school closures and to plan for the rare situation when it is necessary to close an individual school because of a power failure or another circumstance. Children should know where to go if a parent will not be home and how to contact parents and guardians. Parent contact information, including work telephone numbers, should be kept up-to-date with the school. If you are instructed to pick up your student at a location other than their school due to a school closure, you will be asked to present photo ID before the student will be released.