Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine February 2018 | Page 10

Weather – Can’t Avoid It!
When winter weather arrives, it’s a mixed blessing for families with students in Iredell-Statesville
Schools. There is joy (mostly from students) and anxiety (mostly from parents). Weather-related
decisions, be they delayed opening, early dismissal, or closings, are made after much careful
consideration and conversation.
It’s 11:00 a.m. on a Tuesday. It has been cold, maybe raining. A front is anticipated and reported
by weather models, but it is not scheduled to arrive until later that evening. District Transportation
personnel and the superintendent monitor the weather constantly during the day. A cancellation
of all after school activities may be decided, so students and staff will be safely off campus and at
home prior to the arrival of inclement weather. If the temperature is anticipated to drop to below
freezing overnight, the call may be made to delay the opening of school the next day or to cancel
school altogether.
From 11:00 a.m. on this particular Tuesday, much of the day becomes “about weather”.
Surrounding districts are called to see what they are planning for this incoming weather system.
Iredell County Emergency Management is