Inclement Weather-School Closure Information

Inclement Weather/School Closure Information for 2023-2024 School Year

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

As we anticipate the arrival of colder weather, I want to ensure that our school community is well-informed about our plans in the event of inclement weather. Our primary concern is the safety of all our students, and we strive to make decisions promptly despite the unpredictable nature of weather conditions. Communication is key, and we aim to reach out to families using various channels to keep everyone informed.

Here are the options we may exercise based on weather conditions:

  1. Normal Schedule: Schools will operate at their regular times. Buses will run on either the standard routes or designated snow routes. If snow routes are utilized in the morning, they may or may not continue in the afternoon. This will be dependent on weather conditions.
  1. 2-Hour Delayed Start: Schools will open two hours later than usual. For Helen Haller Elementary, Sequim Middle School, Olympic Peninsula Academy, and Sequim High School, the 2-hour delayed start time from Monday to Friday will be 10:15 a.m. For Greywolf Elementary, the 2-hour delayed start time will be 10:30 a.m. Bus pick-up times will be delayed by two hours, and routes may follow either regular or snow routes. AM Preschool will not be available on delayed start days, PM Preschool will be open (unless road conditions are hazardous), and a full breakfast may not be provided. Information about evening activities, practices, etc., will be communicated on the day of the delay.
  1. School Closure: In the event of severe conditions, schools will be closed, resulting in the cancellation of all scheduled school events, practices, and community activities that use school facilities.

Buses are considered the safest means of transportation during inclement weather. Our drivers are highly trained and take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our students. On Snow Route Days, parents must be present at the drop-off locations to receive their student(s) at the specified times (for those students not walking to their homes). If a parent or responsible adult for a non-walking student is unable to meet them at the drop-off location, the student will remain on the bus and return to the school with the bus driver.

It is rare for us to cancel school due to the inability to safely operate our buses. However, numerous factors are carefully considered in making inclement weather decisions. These factors are detailed on the back of this letter.

I encourage every family to keep a copy of this important information easily accessible. Your understanding and patience during times when adjustments to our regular routine are necessary are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Regan Nickels

Superintendent, Sequim School District

 

Inclement Weather/School Closure Information for 2023-2024 School Year

Where can I get information concerning the decision? If bad weather conditions, unusual building circumstances, or other unforeseen activities occur during the night or day, Sequim School District will list modified schedule and bus route information on the district website www.sequimschools.org by 6:15 a.m. or follow the Sequim School District Facebook page.

In the event of a school closure or 2-hour delayed start, the district’s automated phone system will begin calling and texting households as early at 6 a.m. A message will also be sent via e-mail. For this purpose, it is important that your student’s school office has up-to-date contact information in Skyward.

To receive text message alerts from the Sequim School District, you must ‘opt-in’. If you need assistance opting -in, please contact your student’s school. Text message and data rates may apply.

You may also find information broadcasted on AM (KONP 1450, KOMO 1000), FM (KUOW 94.9, KPLZ 101.5, KSQM 91.5, KONP 101.7) and TV News (KOMO 4, KING 5, KIRO 7, Q13 FOX).

What factors influence the decision? 

Please understand that we make the decision to open or close the schools in bad weather based on a careful analysis of all relevant factors, such as: 

  • Information on road conditions from transportation staff, maintenance staff, and from Washington State Patrol. We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the district may be dangerous. Also, we must consider that some high school students drive to school.
  • Amount of snow and/or ice accumulated.
  • Whether precipitation is continuing.
  • Building conditions (whether we have electricity and water).
  • Parking lot conditions. Administrators talk to maintenance and custodial staff members who are responsible for clearing and treating school parking lots and sidewalks.
  • Temperature and wind chill. Please remember that some of our students walk to school and some must wait outside for the bus.
  • Weather predictions. We prefer not making our decision based on weather predictions, which are not always accurate. But sometimes this in unavoidable.
  • What other school districts are doing. We also share information with other local districts and check whether they are opening or closing.

Who makes the decision? The superintendent makes the decision after consulting with the transportation and maintenance supervisors, Clallam County Highway Department, State Patrol, and neighboring school districts.

When must the decision be made?  The decision must be made prior to 6 a.m. or earlier in order to notify radio and TV stations and post the decision on our website.  If the decision is delayed, some parents will have already left for work, leaving their children unsupervised.  

General Information about Snow Bus Routes:

  • If you catch a bus from any of the roads listed below, read the description for alternate stops and times for the Snow Schedule. On snow route days, a parent/guardian must be present to pick up their student at the drop off locations by the listed times. If a parent or responsible adult does not meet their child at the drop off location, the student will remain on the bus and return to the school with the driver.
  • Special Needs and Preschool Students: Parents of special needs and preschool students will need to make alternative arrangements for pick up and drop off locations, or transport their own student (A.M., Midday & P.M.).Please call our transportation department at 582-3274 or 582-3273 to make alternative arrangements.

 

Sequim School District Transportation Snow Routes 2023-2024
* All bus routes not mentioned below are running on regular routes.

                                                 

Route 2 (Thumper Bus): Cancellation of bus route on Palo Alto Rd, Eastern Happy Valley and 3rd Ave. Students on Palo Alto Road and from this area will be picked up at the SW end of QFC Plaza at 990 E. Washington St. at 7:30 am and dropped off at 3:20 pm. Eastern Happy Valley and 3rd Avenue pick up at Ferrell Gas at 646 South 3rd Avenue at 7:45 am and dropped off at 3:30 pm.

Route 4 (Minnie Mouse Bus): Cancellation of routes in Diamond Point and Chicken Coop area. The Minnie Mouse bus will be at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Seven Cedars Casino (back parking lot) at 7:25 a.m. and leave at 7:40 a.m. to pick up and 3:25 p.m. to drop off students whose parents car-pool them to that area.

Route 5 (Pluto Bus): Cancellation of bus route east of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Seven Cedars Casino. The Pluto bus will be at the Casino (back parking lot) at 7:25 am and leave at 7:40 am to pick up and 3:25 pm to drop off students whose parents car-pool them to that area. Pluto will pick up students at their regular stops on 101 between Sequim and the Casino. The bus stops on Hwy. 101 only if pull offs are clear to pull over west of the Casino.

Route 6 (Bambi Bus): Cancellation of bus route up Blue Mt. Students on Blue Mt. will be picked up at Blue Mt. Transit Stop on Hwy. 101 at 7:25 am. Fern Rd Transit Stop at 7:28 am. Students that live on South Barr Rd. will be picked up at South Barr Rd. Transit Stop on Hwy. 101 at 7:30 am. Cliff Robinson 7:33 am, Pierson Rd. Transit Stop on Hwy. 101at 7:35 a.m. Students on Kirk Rd. will be picked up at Kirk Rd. Transit Stop on Hwy. 101 at 7:45 am. Afternoon drop times are: Blue Mt. 3:25 pm, Fern Road 3:28 pm, South Barr 3:30 pm, Cliff Robinson 3:33 pm, Pierson Rd. 3:35 pm, Kirk Rd. 3:45 pm. Stops on Hwy. 101 will be made only if pull-off are cleared to pull over.

Route 7 (Motorgoat Bus): Cancellation of routes on Fish Hatchery, Lost Mountain, Olson and Hooker Roads. Students in these areas can board the bus at the Taylor Cutoff/Fish Hatchery pull out at 7:25 a.m. and will be dropped off at 3:30 pm. Option: Be picked up at Greywolf Elementary School at 7:40 a.m. and dropped off at 3:10 p.m.

Route 8 (Turtle Bus): Students on Shore, Heuhslein, and Lewis Roads will be picked up at R Corner Transit Stop on Hwy. 101 at 7:25 am and dropped off at 3:20 pm. Sieberts Creek Rd. students will be picked up at 7:35 am and dropped off at 3:30 pm. O’Brien Rd. students will be picked up at their Transit Stop on Hwy. 101 at 7:45 am and dropped off at 3:35 pm. Students on Sherbourne, Atterberry, and Cassidy will be picked up at Hooker Rd. Transit Stop on Hwy. 101 at 7:50 am and dropped off at 3:50 pm.

Route 14 (Bear Bus): Cancellation of bus route south of Secor Rd, all Happy Valley stops, and Reservoir Rd stops. Students affected by these cancellations will be picked up at Avellana & River Rd. at 7:40 a.m. and dropped off at the same location at 3:24 p.m. The Turnstone students will be picked up at W. Silberhorn and Turnstone at 7:28 a.m. and dropped off at 3:20 p.m. Happy Valley and Reservoir Rd stops will be picked up at Ferrell Gas (646 South 3rd Avenue) at 7:10 a.m. and dropped off at the same location at 3:50 p.m.

Route 15 (Brown Rabbit Bus): Cancellation of route on East Sequim Bay Rd. The Brown Rabbit bus will be at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Seven Cedars Casino (back parking lot) at 7:10 a.m. and leave at 7:25 a.m. to pick up and at 3:45 p.m. to drop off students whose parents carpool them to that area.