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Closures, Delayed Starts, and Early Releases

man shoveling snow

As we approach winter and the stormy conditions that come with it, Salt Lake City School District schools will be open on all regularly scheduled school days unless circumstances create health or safety issues. Like any public service, people count on our schools to remain open. Our role in the community goes beyond providing educational services: 

  • Many district students rely on their neighborhood schools for breakfast and lunch. These meals are not simply convenient; they provide nutritional needs for children who may otherwise go without. 

  • A significant number of students in the district would remain home alone without supervision if their school had an unscheduled closure. Many families don't have the luxury of adjusting work schedules on short notice. 

  • A functioning school building provides warmth and safety in addition to classroom instruction.  

 On nights when snow is expected, our crews are out as early as 2 or 3 a.m. surveying road conditions and our school parking lots and sidewalks. They gather information from the Utah Department of Transportation, the National Weather Service, and other sources before making a recommendation to the Superintendent on whether we should delay school start times or opt for another alternative.

We fully expect our schools to be open and functioning normally throughout the winter, but weather conditions can vary greatly in different areas of the city. During adverse conditions, we encourage parents to make attendance decisions for their children based on their specific ability to get to school safely. We trust parents to make the ultimate call when it comes to their child's safety. Not all streets are plowed at the same time, and snow totals may differ throughout the city. If you do not think it is safe to send or take your kids to school during a weather incident, you have the option to keep them home. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF SCHOOLS CLOSE?

If severe weather conditions force a delayed start to school or a switch to an emergency remote learning day, the district will inform parents as early in the morning as possible. Please look for notifications on our social media (FacebookInstagram, and Twitter), on the district website, and in your email. We may also send phone calls and text messages to our families.  Accordingly, if your contact information has recently changed, please call your school and provide them updated information. This will enable the school and/or the district to reliably notify you.   

Parents are encouraged to create an emergency plan for their students. Parents should plan with their students where to go or what to do if a parent is not home and schools are closed, delayed, or dismissed early. In the event of an early release, elementary and middle school students will be held at school until parents or guardians are notified and arrangements are made to keep the students safe.