Weather Emergency Procedures

Flashes Community,

It’s that time of year again in Indiana—the season when we go to bed with spring weather and wake up under a foot of snow. While we can’t control the weather, there are a few things we can get ready for in advance. We know you’ve got a lot on your plate as a parent, so we’ve put together a quick “Weather Preparedness Checklist” to help you stay ahead of Indiana’s unpredictable winter and have the answers to the most important questions.

Deciding whether to open, delay, or close school is rarely straightforward, and we take these decisions very seriously. We also respect your role as a parent in deciding what’s best for your child’s safety and appreciate your understanding when we make that call for over 11,000 students and more than 1,000 staff members.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at info@ftcsc.org.

Thank you for everything you do to support our school community!

Dr. Chase Huotari

Superintendent, FTCSC

Table of Contents

• Quick Start Guide
• Closure/Delay Considerations
• Closure/Delay Communications
• 2-Hour Delay Schedules
• Synchronous Learning Information
• Central 9
• Athletics and Other Activities
• Wanamaker Early Learning Center
• Other Considerations

Quick Start Guide

Make sure that you are ready for when a school delay or closure happens:

• Have a plan in place for a delayed school start.
• Log in to Skyward and ensure all your information
  • Parent/Guardian emails are accurate.
  • Parent/Guardian phone numbers are accurate
  • Emergency contacts are accurate.  
• Download and log in to the Parent Square app 
• Review the Virtual Learning Guardian Guide.
• Make sure your child knows where they should go if there is an early release.

Closure/Delay Considerations

Deciding whether to open, delay, or close school is rarely straightforward, and we take these decisions very seriously.  FTCSC will only delay or cancel as a last resort. A variety of  reasons could cause the school corporation to delay or cancel, including:

• Facilities
  • Utility issues such as gas, electricity, or water disruptions may lead to school closures. Cold-related problems, including water supply and power outages, can also result in cancellations.
• Freezing Rain/Sleet
  • Freezing rain/sleet is the most unpredictable weather, as it occurs quickly and depends on temperature. School closure decisions are delayed until the latest possible time to assess current local conditions, typically made in the morning.
• Snowfall
  • Snowfall is more predictable than freezing rain/sleet, with meteorologists allowing a 2-inch prediction variation. Due to this variability, school closure decisions are often delayed until actual accumulation warrants action, typically made in the morning unless in extreme cases.
• Extreme Snowfall Situations
  • If significant snow has accumulated or more is predicted, a school closure decision may be made the evening before. This happens when authorities deem streets unlikely to be passable by morning.
• Extreme Cold
  • Temperature predictions are highly accurate. We use NOAA’s hourly forecast for the FTCSC area. A two-hour delay is considered if air temperatures are predicted to be -10°F or lower by 7:00 a.m. School closure is possible if it remains below -10°F by 9:00 a.m. Decisions will be made early, potentially the night before, but no later than 6:00 a.m.
• Extreme Wind Chill
  • Wind chill predictions are less accurate than temperature due to variable wind speeds. While NOAA’s data is based on the Indianapolis Airport, local conditions across Marion County may differ. Wind chill concerns arise at -18°F. A two-hour delay may be considered if NOAA predicts wind chills of -18°F or lower and local conditions match airport winds at 7:00 a.m. If this persists at 9:00 a.m., school closure is possible. Due to wind variability, decisions may be made the evening prior but will likely be made in the morning.

Closure/Delay Communications

FTCSC will communicate a school closure or delay using the following:

• ParentSquare—FTCSC uses ParentSquare as its primary communication tool. You can receive messages in the ParentSquare app, text, and email.
• Social Media – Follow the FTCSC Facebook and Instagram pages.
• Local TV and Radio Stations.

2-Hour Delay Schedules

On a 2-hour delay, our morning school bus times will be two hours later. For example, a 6:25 AM pickup will happen at 8:25 AM. Below, you will find  school start times:

Academics During an Inclement Weather, School Cancellation, or Delay Day

When inclement weather or an unplanned event closes a school building, FTCSC will continue learning remotely using a Synchronous or teacher-directed remote learning model. When there is a 2-hour delay, C9 students will be impacted.

Synchronous Learning Information

• You can find the FTCSC Synchronous Instructional Plan HERE.

Central 9 Students

• If FCHS is in session but C9 is not:
  • C9 Two-Hour Delay – C9 students will report to FCHS at their regular time (10:55 M/T/W and 10:30 Th/F). No C9 bus transportation is provided.
  • C9 building is closed – C9 students will report to FCHS at their regular time (10:55 M/T/W and 10:35 Th/F). There is no C9 bus transportation provided.
• If C9 is in session but FCHS is not:
  • FCHS Two-Hour Delay – C9 students report to FCHS at 11:33 (M/T/W) and 11:05 (Th/F). Attendance at C9 is optional. There is no C9 bus transportation provided.
  • FCHS building is closed – C9 students will not attend C9 and follow the FCHS Synchronous Virtual Learning Day schedule.

Athletics and Other After-School Activities During an Inclement Weather, School Cancellation, or Delay Day

When inclement weather or an unplanned event closes a school building, FTCSC will decide during the day whether to hold events. 

• Due to weather conditions ever-changing and based on the progress of snow removal, a school building could be closed in the morning and then opened in the afternoon/evening for activities.
• Assume your after-school activity is canceled unless you hear directly from the coach or sponsor. They will communicate the status of the afternoon/evening activity through a ParentSquare message.

Wanamaker Early Learning Center

FTCSC preschool will operate or close based on criteria different from those of other K-12 FTCSC school buildings. 

• All closures or delays involving Wanamaker Early Learning Center (WELC) will be sent directly to WELC families on ParentSquare. 

Other Considerations

In Indiana, the weather is constantly changing. This may impact whether students go outside or stay inside during the school day.

• If your child’s school has recess, please refer to the guidelines for outside recess in your child’s school’s Student Handbook.
• Physical Education and Recess are integral to our students’ day. Students may go outside for a variety of activities. Your child should appropriately dress for cold weather. Appropriate weather items include gloves, a hat, and a winter coat.
• Decisions to be outside may change throughout the school day. The decision to go out will include the following factors: temperature, wind chill, age of the students, length of time outdoors, and outside conditions, including equipment conditions.