HOW IS THE DECISION MADE? – Please understand that the decision to open or close the schools in bad weather is based on a careful analysis of all relevant factors, such as:

• Information on road conditions from transportation staff and from the police.  Careful consideration is given to the most dangerous roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the district may be dangerous. Also, consideration is given to the fact that some high school students drive to school.
• Amount of snow and ice accumulated.
• Whether precipitation is continuing.
• Building conditions (such as whether schools have electricity and heat).
• Parking lot conditions. Administrators discuss the conditions of the schools’ parking lots and sidewalks with the maintenance and custodial staff members to determine if the sites are safe.
• Temperature and wind chill. Please remember that some of our students walk to school and some must wait outside for the bus.
• Weather predictions. The administration prefers not making a decision based on weather predictions, which are not always accurate, however, sometimes this is necessary.
• What other school districts are doing. Whether other local districts are opening or closing is also a consideration.

WHO MAKES THE DECISION?  – The Superintendent of Schools is responsible for the final decision, based on the above factors and recommendations from the school district’s Supervisors of Transportation and Buildings and Grounds, and the Police Department.

HOW IS THE PUBLIC NOTIFIED? – Parents/Guardians and staff members will receive announcements from the Honeywell Instant Alert TM System, with regard to emergency school closings resulting from stormy or inclement weather or any other emergency. Announcements are also made on the Woodbridge Township School District’s Web page, found at www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us; on TV35-36; WCTC (1450) AM radio, WINS (1010) AM radio, NJ101.5 FM radio (which is also broadcasted on Comcast Cable Channel #8); WNBC TV Channel 4; and on Cable News12NJ.

WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE? – The Superintendent of Schools must make the decision to close the schools by 5:30 a.m. or earlier, so that radio and TV stations are notified and the information is posted on the district’s Web site. If the decision is made later than 5:30 a.m., some parents will have already left for work, leaving their children unsupervised.

WILL SCHOOLS CLOSE IF CONDITIONS WORSEN? – Please keep in mind that, even if weather conditions worsen, the decision to close schools for the day cannot be reversed without endangering students. When the decision is made to open the schools, many parents rely on it and leave for work. If we then send students back home, many will return to unsupervised bus stops and empty houses. If conditions worsen during the school day, a decision to conduct an early dismissal will be considered.