CCSD staff up all night during severe weather

October 27, 2009

While most of us are snug in our beds on a snowy night, staff members who work in Educational Support Services are awake assessing weather conditions to determine whether or not a delayed start or snow day is warranted.

When severe weather is forecast, Cherry Creek School District officials must make a decision by 5 a.m. on whether or not to delay classes or close schools.

For that to happen, Transportation Services Director Mike Hush and his team climb in their vehicles at about 3 a.m. and drive specific routes to evaluate road conditions.

Based on their observations and ongoing reports, Hush calls Executive Director of Facility Support Rick Collier to discuss the effect the weather has had on the roads and how difficult it may be to transport all students to school safely and on time.

If it is determined that the road conditions will cause difficulty in getting students and staff to schools safely, Collier calls Scott Siegfried, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Support Services, by 4:15 a.m. to further assess weather conditions and develop a recommendation.

Finally, Siegfried calls Superintendent Mary Chesley with a recommendation to start school as normal, delay the start of school, or close school completely, with Chesley making the final determination.

“To start picking up students on time, or to notify bus drivers and schools that the scheduled has changed, we must make a decision by 5 a.m.,” Collier said.

If school is delayed or closed, the district’s Web site and weather hotline, 720-554-4701, are updated immediately. In addition, the media are notified.

"If conditions change unexpectedly after we start the morning transportation routes, our focus will be on the safety of students even if the weather and road conditions make some of the routes run behind schedule," Collier said. "In any case, parents are always able to determine if their students should go to school on a bad weather day. If students are kept home, the absence will be considered excused."

In compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Colorado state law, the Cherry Creek School District No. 5 does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis race, color, ancestry, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates. Complaints may be directed to the District Compliance Officer, Ms. Kathy Vining, Office of Excellence & Equity, 4700 So. Yosemite St., Greenwood Village, CO 80111, (720) 554-4536.