School Closing, Late Start or Early Release Procedures

The Superintendent will make decisions about school closings, late starts, or early releases as early in the day as possible in event of hazardous weather, epidemics, or other emergencies that threaten the safety or health of students or staff members. The school closure, late start, or early release will be communicated to staff, students, families, and the school community via designated broadcast media, local authorities, automated phone call, e-mail, and/or district or school building websites.

If Administration and Transportation staff decide that a late start is called for, buses will still be available to transport children, just two hours later than their usual time. If the weather turns drastically worse during the school day, parents could be notified of an early release. Buses would again be available for transporting students, and families would be notified at all contact numbers and email addresses.

In our 2,200 square mile district, conditions can vary greatly. The district recognizes that weather conditions in Bigfork can be drastically different from those in Grand Rapids. As a result, families may also see a Bigfork-only school closure, late start, or early release.

The decision to close school is a serious one, and it affects many working families who would have to take a day off of work or find daycare on short notice. Some families do not have these options and their children may be left home alone. Often, children are more at risk when we close schools. Now, we hope to better serve parents and families with this added flexibility.

Remember, the final decision to keep your child home lies with you. Should you choose to keep your child home, Grand Rapids Area Schools will always support that decision. We appreciate your feedback and know that the safety of your children is foremost in your mind, as it is in ours.

A wind chill of ‑50° Fahrenheit will be identified for closing schools due to cold weather.