Winter Weather School Closures – Important Information for Families
As winter approaches, we want to ensure that you are informed about how decisions regarding school closures or delays are made, especially during inclement weather. Please know that these decisions are never taken lightly and are always made with the safety of our students and staff as our top priority.
How We Make Closure Decisions
To determine whether school should be canceled or delayed, we gather information from multiple reliable sources, including:
The National Weather Service
Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency
Rogers County Sheriff's Department
Catoosa Police Department
Local news stations
Neighboring school districts
In addition, our district leaders survey road conditions, school driveways, and sidewalks, and monitor current temperatures to assess whether it is safe for students and staff to travel.
Communication and Notification
We understand that changes to the school schedule impact families, and we make every effort to provide timely updates. Our goal is to give you as much advance notice as possible. When decisions need to be made quickly, please know that we are doing our best to communicate effectively.
We will notify you of closures and delays in several ways:
Website
Email and text messages
Social media (usually the fastest way to receive critical information)
Local media
Remind (via teachers)
While some methods of communication may be faster than others, all of the above are official notifications from Catoosa Public Schools.
Ensure You Receive Timely Updates
To help us reach you, please update your contact information with your school if your email address or phone number has changed. We also recommend downloading the Catoosa Public Schools app, which will send notifications directly to your phone.
For Bus Riders
When school is in session during cold weather, we continue to prioritize safety. If your student rides the bus, we encourage you to use the BusWhere app, which provides real-time bus location updates and arrival times. This will help you know exactly when your child's bus will arrive, reducing the time they need to wait outside in cold conditions.
Closing Time Frame
We aim to make a decision regarding school closure or delay by 5:30 a.m. on the day in question. As soon as a decision is made, we will communicate it through the channels mentioned above.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during winter weather events. We remain committed to keeping your child’s safety at the forefront of every decision we make. Thank you for your continued support and patience as we navigate these decisions.