Weather Delays and Closures

Douglas County School District takes the safety of our students, staff, parents and community members seriously. Our district is huge - spanning 850+ square miles, and conditions can vary from one region to another.

Because many of our families and staff travel across the school district, any weather delay or closure will apply to the entire school district (unless otherwise indicated).

The decision to close, delay or keep a school open during inclement weather is never taken lightly. We always keep the safety of our students, staff, and parents top of mind. Factors including snowfall, wind chill, road conditions and more are all taken into consideration.

How the decision is made

Beginning 24 hours prior to the start of a forecasted storm, we have several staff members (DCSD Snow Team) assessing the changing conditions across the county and at our schools. If the forecast or current conditions are concerning, the team makes a recommendation for a delay or closure to the superintendent, who makes the final decision.

The procedure for determining whether schools will start on time, be delayed or closed is as follows:

• The district receives ongoing weather forecasts from local meteorologists, SkyView Weather and the National Weather Service.

• At 4:00 p.m. the day prior to the forecasted storm, our Operations team determines whether or not to activate the DCSD Snow Team. Depending on the status of the incoming storm a Snow Team call is scheduled for later that evening, or for 4:00 a.m. the next morning. 

When the DCSD Snow Team is activated:

• Beginning at 3:00 a.m. (or sooner) area drivers report conditions to the Transportation Director and Chief Operations Officer.

• District staff contacts neighboring school districts to share information and recommendations.

• The forecast is reviewed continuously.

• Before 4:00 a.m. the DCSD Transportation and Operations & Maintenance Directors share information and potential recommendations with the Chief Operations Officer.

• Before 4:00 a.m. the Superintendent and members of Cabinet join a “Snow Team call,” and the COO provides information and a recommendation regarding whether the district should remain open, be delayed, or closed.

• The superintendent reviews all available information and makes the final decision by 5:00 a.m. 

• If a delay or cancellation is to be implemented, families will receive a text message and email no later than 5:00 a.m. (usually much earlier). Notifications will also be posted on the district website, social media channels, and local media agencies.

In rare cases, it is possible for the district to make a decision the evening before for the next day. When that happens, families will be notified by 10:00 p.m.

Because the Douglas County School District is 850+ square miles, conditions may vary in different areas of the district - even from neighborhood to neighborhood. Decisions are based on predictions and conditions on the ground in the district before 5:00 a.m. We know that sometimes, extreme weather conditions arise or worsen as students, parents, and community members are already commuting.

We are committed to making the best possible decision when it comes to closures and delays, and taking every measure to ensure the safety of our entire community. Our number-one priority is making sure that everyone is able to make it to school safely, and this goal steers every step of our process.