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| Winter Weather Prep! Dear Onalaska School District Families, Another year, another inclement weather bulletin! As temperatures in have started to dip below freezing, the Onalaska School District wants to ensure that students, staff and families know what to expect on days where school might be affected by winter weather. To follow are some helpful resources to help understand where to find the most updated information, what that information means, and how we make our decisions. Some of this information may be new for this year so please take a look!
Stay safe and be well, Brenda Padgett, Superintendent | |       
| In case of a school delay or closure due to inclement weather or an emergency, we notify families and staff about delays and closures via robocall, text and email. The district also has an app available for download in both Apple Store and Google Play. Finally, we also post the information at the following media outlets:
Please do not call the transportation office, district office, or school offices if you have checked these resources and see no announcement. No announcement means there is no change.
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| In the event that winter weather does cause a change in the school day, the following schedule changes may be announced by the Onalaska School District:
2-Hour Delay Buses pick up students 2 hours later than normal If delay occurs on a Wednesday, there will be no early release. Schools will release at normal full day time. No out of district transportation
3-Hour Delay Buses pick up students 3 hours later than normal If delay occurs on a Wednesday, there will be no early release. Schools will release at normal full day time.
School Canceled School Dismissed Early Bus Snow Routes Snow route information along with other useful information is posted on the Onalaska School District website Please pay attention to announcements about snow routes as buses may be on AM snow routes, PM snow routes or both.
| | | Remote Learning Days are coming to an endDear Onalaska School District Families, There has been an important change in how our district will respond to inclement weather this school year. In previous years, Onalaska School District utilized online instruction and other alternative methods when weather conditions made travel unsafe. However, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) no longer permits districts to use these methods as a response to inclement weather or other short-term/temporary closure needs. As a result, we will return to using snow make-up days when school is canceled due to weather or similar situations. Washington State requires all school districts to meet two key calendar requirements: 180 instructional days A minimum number of instructional hours
Unless granted a waiver, districts must meet both requirements. Waivers may be considered only after a district has made up at least three missed days, or in cases of a declared state or county emergency. Even then, a waiver is not guaranteed. This means that if we cancel school due to the weather, we will need to make up those days. Make-up days may fall on dates originally scheduled as non-school days, which could affect family plans. If your child is unable to attend a make-up day due to a prior commitment, please notify their school to ensure the absence is excused. Potential Make-Up Days: ● May 22 ● June 16 and beyond, if needed Our priority remains keeping the school open whenever safely possible. We will continue to use delayed start times (2-hour or 3-hour delays) to avoid full-day closures when feasible. | |       
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On a morning when the threat of hazardous conditions may exist, district staff members begin driving bus routes early in the morning to examine road conditions. We consider weather-related situations that students and staff will face as well as the forecast for later in the day. We also monitor the road conditions through our county’s website. Our school district covers a broad region with remote areas and steep terrain in places. While roads may be passable in town, conditions may be very different just a few miles away. Before we close schools or delay start times, we seek answers to the questions below:
Can we ensure that buses can navigate the streets safely? Will students be safe waiting for buses, driving, or walking to school? Will road conditions be substantially improved if we start school late (e.g., a two-hour late start)? What are the predicted weather conditions later in the day? Will we have heat and lights in our schools? Can enough staff make it safely to school in order to serve our students?
Once the information is gathered, the Superintendent decides whether to close or delay school. When the decision to close schools or delay the start times is made, we inform parents, students, and staff. As a parent, you may decide to keep your child or children at home if you feel it’s unsafe to make the trip to school. You are in the best position to decide about your local conditions and your child’s judgment and driving capabilities.
While we go to extensive measures to determine if roads district-wide are safe for travel, it’s physically impossible for us to be on every street corner and side street at all times. We rely on you to be the final judge when it comes to the safety of your child. We appreciate your support in keeping students safe! | | 
| Make sure you have logged in to Skyward and checked that your family's contact information is up to date. This is crucial to ensure you receive all notifications.
Make sure you have downloaded the Onalaska Loggers App. Consider subscribing to the FlashAlert app to receive notifications of weather-related schedule changes by email or text message. Kindergarten through 5th grades, please remember that on cold winter days, your student will still be spending time outside. Sending your student to school with weather-appropriate gear such as a coat, hat and gloves can go a long way toward helping them have a more pleasant day
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