The forecast has the chance for freezing temperatures and snow. We want you to be informed about how we keep our students and staff safe, and how we make decisions about closures and delays. Now is a great time to make sure your contact information is up to date so you don’t miss any announcements. Use the Parent Portal/Powerschool or contact your student’s school office.
Delays and Closings
The safety of students is the primary consideration for any decision regarding snow routes, delayed start, and school cancelation. The superintendent works with Mid-Columbia Bus Company and other transportation officials to make informed decisions regarding risk factors. When a trial run of our routes indicates unsafe travel, the district will announce school closures or delays.
The district has several ways to communicate with families in the event of a delay or closure.
- Call, Email, Text: The district utilizes ParentSquare to call the parent numbers we have on file to notify you about a closure, delay, early release or emergency. You will also receive an email to the email address on file. If you have text and/or app notifications enabled on ParentSquare, you will receive text messages and/or push notifications about delays and closures.
- FlashAlert: Cascade School District subscribes to FlashAlert. We post closures and delay information to FlashAlert as soon as a decision is made. If you’ve subscribed to FlashAlert notifications, this service will send you an update on our closure/delay status. FlashAlert also has an app you can download for your phone to receive push notifications and email alerts.
- Media Reporting: Cascade School District’s social media channels and website are updated as soon as a closure or delay decision is made. Individual school sites are updated as well. Check these official sources for accurate information; do not be fooled by phony social media posts. Local TV and radio stations may also report Cascade School District’s closures and delays. These notifications are not immediate.
When Will I Know?
When possible, the superintendent will announce the closure/delay the previous evening so that parents have an opportunity to make arrangements for childcare, etc. Otherwise, when morning road conditions are treacherous, the superintendent will decide by 5:30 a.m. to close or delay the start of school.
Occasionally, there are instances where the weather is fine when buses are out, but it may become worse after students are in school. In this case, we use the same notification process as outlined above for an early release.
During inclement weather, the district’s priority is the safety of its students and staff. We strive to make the best decision possible as promptly as possible. These decisions are not made lightly as we value every instructional day for our students. We appreciate your patience as we work through these decisions.
Snow Routes
In preparation for any weather-related transportation issues, Mid-Columbia Bus Company has proactively created several snow routes for areas that are typically affected by inclement weather. Safety is our highest priority when weather impacts transportation. The district will determine if school bus snow routes will be activated to accommodate the existing weather condition. These routes may be used for snow, ice, wind, flooding, or other conditions.