Today is and school is OPEN.

The decision to close school is a difficult one and it is not taken lightly. The determination is usually made between 4:00 and 5:00 am. In cases where there is extreme weather being forecast or in situations where unsafe road conditions are only going to deteriorate overnight, the decision to close school may occur the night before the closure. The determination to close schools is made after consulting area weather forecasts and driving roads around the district to evaluate road conditions.

The decision to close is based on a number of factors:

Safety: The safety of school children is a prime consideration.

Road conditions: The district encompasses a large geographic area -- about 384 square miles. Road conditions may vary across the district with some areas being more or less hazardous. In addition, approximately 50% of students live within walking distance of their homes and road condition aren't as much of a safety factor.

Parental Choice: Parents can choose whether or not to send their children to school based on weather conditions in their neighborhood. Nearly two-thirds of our students come from homes where both parents work or from a single-parent home in which the parent works. When schools are closed, parents have no choice.

The district's policy allows parents to make their own choice about the safety of their children. If a parent feels that it is too cold or too dangerous for their child to walk or ride the bus to school, he or she has the option to keep their child home. The parent must notify the school about their intent to keep their child home. The absence or tardy would be considered excused under these circumstances if absences were such that credit was in jeopardy.

Important Note to Our Patrons:

Another way to receive notification of school closures is to subscribe to our electronic newsletter. Whenever the district decides to close school we will send a message to those who have subscribed notifying them of the closure. You can subscribe to the MSD E-Newsletter on our home page.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who makes the decision to close schools?

District officials make the decision to close schools. District officials work closely with the district's transportation department, local law enforcement, and other school districts to assess road conditions when making the decision about closing schools.

Does the Meridian School lose funding on “snow days?”

No. Idaho law allows for emergency closures without financial penalty.

Why is the decision to open/close schools made so early?

The district must make the decision by 5:30 a.m. for several reasons. If school is going to close, 5:00 am provides enough time to notify local media so that parents and staff can see the closure announcement at the start of the morning news broadcasts on television and radio. In addition, bus drivers need enough time to prepare for their routes and get on the road in time for early morning student pick-ups.

How will I know school is closed?

Visit the district website, subscribe to our district e-newsletter and monitor your e-mail inbox, watch any of the area's local television stations, and listen to local radio. If you do not see or hear an announcement that school is closed, then you should assume that school is operating as usual.