Fairfield school leaders explain bad-weather plan

As we look ahead to another Iowa winter, let?s take a few minutes to review procedures for school delays, school cancellations or hard surface bus pick-up announcements. In every case we will first consider the safety of students and staff, understanding that we do want to have school in session if weather conditions allow it.

Mr. McElwee and Mr. Sathoff will be closely following weather conditions and will be in communication with other area transportation officials and superintendents. Roads will be checked, and law enforcement and county road personnel may be contacted. During this time period multiple phone conversations are taking place.

The intent is to have a decision made by 6:30 a.m., with media notification immediately following. In some instances, when weather conditions warrant it, a cancellation may be made the previous evening. If this occurs, the goal will be to have the announcement run on the 10 p.m. news. When school is delayed due to weather, the district?s Wednesday late start schedule will be followed.

Individuals who are guardians of school-aged children and who have Internet access are encouraged to sign up for portal access, through which they can designate where to receive cancellation and delay messages. There will be portal sign-up sheets available at parent-teacher conferences Tuesday and Thursday or requests can be emailed to portal@fairfieldfuture.org. Any cancellation or delay also will be scrolled across the top of the district website at www.fairfieldsfuture.org and will be broadcast on a variety of television and radio media. Please take a moment to review this information on the website by selecting the ?Notifications and Alerts? tab.

Please do not call the various school or district office numbers since it is unlikely that they will be answered in the event of inclement weather.

We will make the best-informed decisions we can with student safety being the top priority.

Art Sathoff is the superintendent of the Fairfield Community School District.