Inclement Weather Procedures

The decision to postpone, cancel, or dismiss early due to inclement weather is based on analysis of all available information at the time the critical decision to delay, close, or dismiss early must be made.

The information and sources considered include:

• Consultations with local emergency management, law enforcement, and weather experts. In addition to monitoring local weather forecasts, Fredericksburg ISD participates in ongoing emergency management conference calls with surrounding areas. Calls are scheduled by county officials any time weather threatens the central Texas region. Because the district is split between multiple municipalities, Fredericksburg ISD monitors all such expert reporting.
• Information on road and sidewalk conditions from transportation and operations directors. Fredericksburg ISD consists of varying terrain and road conditions. The Director of Transportation and Director of Operations serve as the internal experts on area roads and campus conditions. Eyewitness reports from staff provide an invaluable addition to regional emergency management reports.
• Weather related disruption to facilities. Fredericksburg ISD must evaluate any disruption to facilities that might prove hazardous, such as electrical, heat and water services.
• Current and projected weather conditions. Because students and staff walk, bike and ride in cars to school beginning as early as 5 a.m., Fredericksburg ISD evaluates current and predicted weather conditions after consulting with regional experts. Reports of accumulated, projected and clearing of road hazards are taken into consideration in the early morning hours.
• Consideration of neighboring school districts and university decisions. Fredericksburg ISD collaborates with area districts to gain a better understanding of how the entire region is affected by inclement weather conditions. While each district is unique, this partnership allows all districts to have a more complete understanding of weather conditions.

A team of district leadership gathers information and makes recommendations from the information and sources above. Ultimately, the Superintendent, or an executive team member decides whether or not to modify the regular school schedule.

Students are not typically dismissed early without notice unless there is reason to believe it is necessary to avoid potentially unsafe situations, such as approaching inclement weather.

If there is a situation, FISD will contact parents and guardians as soon as a decision is made.

If there is a cancelation, delay, or early dismissal, parents, guardians and staff will be notified by email and text if their contact information is up to date. If you do not receive communication with delay or cancellation information, classes will go on as scheduled.

If the district is continuing to monitor inclement weather, all contacts will be notified via email and encouraged to stay connected to the District’s website for the latest news.

• If school is canceled or the start of the school day is delayed:
  • Parents, guardians, and staff registered to receive messages from FISD will receive communication from the District the night before or by 5 a.m. that morning.
  • Parents, guardians, and staff will receive a phone message notifying them the night before or by 5 a.m. on the day of.
• Updates on school closures will also be posted on the District website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook page.

For parents or guardians who wish to update or check their contact information, they may do so by contacting the Registrar’s office at their student’s campus.

If a delay or cancellation of an instructional day is taken, the 2021-2022 academic calendar has two bad weather days and additional instructional minutes built into the calendar. If a third or fourth day is needed, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) allows a district to apply for a waiver. With this taken into account, campuses are not expected to make up instructional time due to inclement weather.