Student safety is Beal City Public’s top priority. As winter approaches, the district is outlining how decisions are made to close or delay school due to weather—so families know what to expect and how to plan.

How the Decision Gets Made

• Daily monitoring: Our Transportation Director monitors weather and road conditions every day.

• Early morning checks: From 5:00–5:30 a.m., the Director—often in consultation with nearby districts—assesses road conditions across the district.

• Recommendation window: Between 5:30–5:45 a.m., the Coordinator provides a recommendation to the Superintendent to close or delay school.

• Evening calls (when predictable): If severe cold or heavy snow is clearly forecast before 5:00 a.m., a recommendation MAY be made the night before.

• Public notice: Once a closure/delay is approved, media and families are notified by 6:00 a.m. (except in extreme conditions).

Weather can vary across our district. We consider bus safety on all routes, and the safety of students and families who drive to school.

How You’ll Be Notified

• District website: www.bealcityschools.net

• Social Media: District and Building Facebook pages

• Apptegy/Thrillshare: Calls, texts, and emails to parents/guardians

• Local media (radio):  WCEN, WHNN(92.3), WCFX  (95.3), WCZY (104.3), WUPS(98.5)

• Local media (TV):  TV CBS 9&10, WNEM TV 5, TV ABC 12

Important: In rare cases, a delay may be updated to closed. Please continue to monitor official channels.

What Triggers a Closing or Delay?

• Hazardous roads: If buses cannot safely navigate county routes, we close or delay.

• Fog: Because fog varies widely, a delay decision is made by 5:00 a.m.

• Tornado warning (during routes): Drivers are trained to seek the nearest safe school site or return to buildings under Transportation direction.

• The district uses NOAA as the official weather source.

Three-Hour Delays

• Bus pick-up is three hours later than normal.

• No breakfast is served on three-hour delay days.

• A delay can change to a closure if conditions worsen.

If We Close for the Day

• All after-school activities and WAAC After-School Program are canceled.

• Middle school athletics (practices & games) are canceled.

• High school athletics (practices & games) are considered case-by-case based on evolving conditions. Decisions regarding games at practices will be made by Noon.

Early Dismissal (Rare)

If weather deteriorates during the day, we may dismiss early. The same notification
channels will be used. Families should have backup childcare plans in place each
winter.

Outdoor Recess Guidelines

• Feels like 10°F and above: Outdoor recess, with appropriate clothing

• Feels like 10°F or below: Inside recess

How Families Can Prepare

• Plan ahead: Arrange backup childcare for unexpected closings or early dismissals.

• Dress warm: Ensure students wear winter-appropriate clothing for bus stops and recess.

• Keep contacts current: Update phone/email in School Messenger to receive alerts.

• Check often: On delay mornings, continue to monitor updates in case the status changes.

Athletics and Winter Weather Procedures

The following guidelines in conjunction with the Board of Educations policy will be used when determining whether or not athletic events are to take place in the event of a weather related school delay or closing.

All decisions will be made by a combination of the superintendent, high school principal, athletic director, transportation director, and varsity coach.   A minimum of three of the above mentioned individuals must be in communication before a final decision is determined.

High School Contests:

1. In addition to the above stated procedures, the athletic director will communicate with the opposing school when determining whether or not to proceed with a scheduled contest on days in which the entire school day was canceled. (If the athletic director is unavailable, the responsibility will be handled by the high school principal.)

2. If students are sent home during the school day, due to weather conditions, all events will be canceled without consideration of open gyms.

3. When high school teams do not have a scheduled contest the immediate day following the day school was closed, open gyms will not be considered.

4. In the event, a high school team has a scheduled contest the immediate day following a school closing, the approval of an open gym will be considered.

5. “Open gym” means that any athlete unable to attend the session will not have any team sanctioned rules held against him/her.

6. Morning practices: we will attempt to address possible weather related issues the day before the practice.  If school is canceled or delayed early enough, we will attempt to contact coaches to cancel practice.  In the event that a practice does not get canceled, it is imperative that the coach stays until all athletes have been picked up.

Junior High: In the event that school has been canceled, all contests and practices will be canceled and there will not be any consideration of an open gym.