Delays & Cancellations (Transportation)
Weather, Delays & Cancellations
Weather in Indiana can change quickly, and at times it may become necessary to delay or cancel school due to inclement conditions that pose health or safety concerns for students traveling to and from school. These decisions are never taken lightly. The safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority.
This page outlines how weather decisions are made, who is responsible for making them, how families are notified, and how instructional days may be impacted.
Who Makes the Decision
The Superintendent makes the final decision regarding school delays, cancellations, and early dismissals.
This decision is made with input from the Director of Transportation, Director of Operations, Facilities Manager, transportation staff, and building administrators.
The Director of Transportation, along with a team of school and operations personnel, actively drive routes throughout the district to assess road conditions firsthand. In addition to local observations, the district remains in regular contact with the National Weather Service as well as county and local officials to monitor current and developing weather conditions.
Road conditions, weather forecasts, visibility, wind chill, and direct input from bus drivers who are already on the roads early each morning are all carefully considered before a recommendation is provided to the Superintendent.
Timing of Decisions
Every effort is made to announce delays or cancellations by 5:30 AM and no later than 6:00 AM.
We will always attempt to notify families as soon as a decision can be made that best serves the safety of our students, parents, and staff. Weather conditions can change rapidly, and decisions are made only after sufficient information is available to ensure a responsible and informed outcome.
Types of Weather Days and Instruction
Possible outcomes related to inclement weather include the following.
Normal school day
Delayed start
eLearning
Live virtual learning
Cancellation
Early dismissal
When a decision is made, it applies to all schools and programs district-wide unless otherwise noted.
Wawasee Community School Corporation will utilize built-in makeup days before using eLearning days. Once the built-in days are used, additional weather-related closures will result in eLearning.
On eLearning days, teachers will have lessons and or activities available by 9:00 AM if school is canceled outright, or by 10:00 AM if a delay is later changed to a cancellation. Teachers will be available to answer questions via email from the time lessons and activities are available through 3:00 PM.
Once all three eLearning days have been used, any additional weather-related closures will require a shift to live virtual learning, also known as synchronous learning. During synchronous learning days, students are expected to attend live virtual instruction during the school day.
The primary objective of eLearning and virtual instruction is to maintain learning momentum, not to make up missed days of school. These options allow students to minimize instructional interruptions while continuing to make educational progress.
Athletics will provide a subsequent message with specific information regarding how the weather day designation affects practices, games, and scheduled events.
How Families Are Notified
When school is delayed or canceled due to weather, announcements will be made through multiple communication channels.
District website
ParentSquare
Radio
WRSW 1480 AM and 107.3 FM
WAWC Willie 103.5 FM
Television
WANE
WPTA
WSBT
WNDU
Social Media
Facebook Wawasee Warriors
Families are encouraged to ensure their ParentSquare contact information is accurate and up to date.
Weather Changes During the School Day
At times, weather conditions may worsen after the school day has already begun. When this occurs, district leadership continues to monitor conditions throughout the day and maintains direct communication with transportation staff and bus drivers.
If conditions warrant, an early dismissal may be implemented to ensure the safety of students and staff. Families will be notified immediately using the communication methods listed above.
How Weather Affects School Buses
Wawasee bus drivers are among the most reliable and child-caring public employees in Indiana. Their driving records and the district’s bus fleet maintenance standards rank exceptionally high.
During adverse weather conditions, drivers may reduce speed, adjust routes, or delay travel when necessary. No driver is expected to operate in unsafe conditions. Safety decisions are made in real time based on current road and weather conditions.
Students Who Walk to School
The district recognizes that some students walk to and from school.
During inclement weather, bus drivers will make every reasonable effort to pick up any student they see walking along their route. Families are encouraged to use discretion and ensure students are dressed appropriately for the weather.
Extreme Cold and Wind Chill
There is no single temperature or wind chill value that automatically results in a school cancellation. Extreme cold is evaluated carefully and in context.
Cold-weather decisions consider multiple factors, including forecasted conditions, the expected duration of extreme cold, the likelihood of improvement, student exposure while waiting for buses, bus reliability, and the safety of students who walk to school.
Additional Weather Procedures
For additional detail, families may review the district’s formal procedure.
Wawasee Weather Procedure School Day Cancellations
Our Commitment to Safety
Our entire staff considers your children’s safety as the utmost public trust. Every weather-related decision is made with care, experience, and the shared goal of doing what is best for students, families, and staff.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Transportation Department.