Decision Time: How Area School Systems Will Determine Whether to Cancel Classes on a Snow Day

As winter weather approaches, schools across Central Indiana are watching closely. Indianapolis Public Schools will wait until Sunday evening or Monday morning to make its call on when students return to class.

The general IPS protocol for snow is:

• Amount and type of precipitation
• Temperature/wind chill
• Visibility
• Status of clearing roads and sidewalks
• Refreeze of melted snow/ice from the previous day
• Continued snow in the forecast

By 4:45 a.m., conditions are assessed across the city. By 5 a.m., the deputy superintendent for operations calls the superintendent to share their recommendation and discuss options for the day.

"We just recently got out of an internal network team meeting where we have been watching the weather fairly closely," said Believe Circle City High School Principal Angel Jackson-Anderson. "We will have a decision by Sunday."

Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation has a teacher work day on Monday but will decide whether students will return early Tuesday morning. Carmel-Clay and Muncie School Corp also plan to make their decisions closer to the time.

"We have our students from preschool through eighth grade coming back on Monday. However, if there is a lot of bad weather or snow, safety is our number one priority. So, whether that be a two-hour delay or a good old-fashioned snow day. We'll just wait and see," said Principal Lindsay Ruth.

Most districts told WRTV students already have their laptops at home and will be okay for e-learning days. Others say only some of their students have them, and will consider cancellations.