School Closing Procedures
Inclement Weather Announcements
Northwest ISD actively monitors the weather when emergency weather services forecast inclement conditions. When possible, Northwest ISD will attempt to communicate any school closure due to inclement conditions the day before school, though the district's goal is to make a decision no later than 5 a.m. the day of school when weather service recommendations and road monitoring allow.
Families will receive communication directly from Northwest ISD when schools close, primarily through ParentSquare. This communication is sent using the contact information families provide during the enrollment process. Parents and guardians can contact their children's schools to update contact information and can change notification preferences in ParentSquare.
Response to Inclement Weather
During extreme weather conditions, Northwest ISD continues to prioritize the safety and welfare of our students and staff. District administrative leaders continuously monitor weather conditions and forecasts.
Contingency plans have been prepared well in advance to address any possible adverse conditions that may result from inclement weather. The district's staff works diligently to provide a safe, positive and comfortable learning and working environment by taking the measures listed below.
Weather & Condition Monitoring
To determine school closings, district leaders will monitor weather conditions with consultation from emergency weather services and local municipal leaders. If conditions are questionable during the early morning hours, staff will travel roads to inspect the actual conditions. Normally, a decision to cancel school will be made prior to 5 a.m., so school closures can be communicated to staff, parents and students. Sometimes it is difficult to cancel school if adverse conditions do not exist prior to 5 a.m.
Transportation Operations & Appropriate Clothing
To keep buses operating and comfortable, mechanics and drivers arrive early to ensure buses start properly and are warm prior to picking up students. If temperatures are low and school is in session, families should ensure children are dressed in several layers of clothing for safety. If challenges exist in obtaining appropriate clothing for cold temperatures, families should contact the school counselor for assistance.
School & Facility Conditioning
To keep the temperature in the facilities comfortable for student and staff arrivals, the facilities maintain a normal operating temperature to prevent a drastic fall during the extreme weather. Implementing this measure also protects the plumbing and fire systems within the buildings. For energy savings, temperature set points will adjust to more cost-efficient settings as soon as the extreme weather passes.
To keep exterior entrances safe, custodial staff will monitor and apply materials to clear entrances when necessary. To help ensure continued safety and comfort of our students and staff, the district's maintenance staff is on alert to respond to calls related to the weather.
Ongoing School & Facility Maintenance
To ensure that buildings do not have damage after inclement weather, the maintenance staff will do a scheduled walk through the building the following weekend. By monitoring the buildings, the staff is able to rapidly respond to any damage and make immediate repairs to ensure that any possible damage does not have a negative impact on instruction delivery or jeopardize the safety of our students and staff.
Students safety is our most important concern. The normal procedure in Northwest ISD is not to close schools early once students are in attendance, as this creates hardships for families, and schools are a safe environment. District officials will continuously monitor weather conditions both if schools close or if they remain open.
When no announcement is made, schools are operating on their regular schedules, though the district may send an email reminder so families are aware.