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School Cancellations And Delays Due To Weather

This information is intended to be a reminder of the policies in place for dealing with weather cancellations for families and staff.

Q: How is the decision made to close or delay schools because of weather conditions?

A: Decisions on whether or not to delay or cancel school during inclement weather is made after consultation between school and city officials with a focus on safe travel.

Q: How will I know if schools are closed or there is a delay?

A: As soon as a decision to close school is made, an announcement will appear on our SPS Website, Facebook page, via automated phone messaging, and on local media channels. Students of families who have signed up to receive weather-related texts from the district, will recieve a text.

Q: Are district offices open when schools are canceled?

A: District offices, including the Parent and Community Engagement Office, will remain open when schools are closed except in the case of a district closure.

Q: What is the difference between school closures and district closures?

On rare occasions, there will be times when the entire district is closed, and that will mean no employees (other than custodians) report to work. The district will close when Springfield City Hall Offices are closed.

SPS STAFF

WEATHER-RELATED SCHOOL CLOSURES, DISTRICT CLOSURES, SCHOOL DELAYS

SCHOOL CLOSURE

When schools are closed, the following groups are NOT required to report to work:

  • Students
  • Unit A Members (teachers)
  • School Nurses (RN)
  • Substitute Teachers
  • Traffic Supervisors (School)
  • Bus Monitors
  • Lunch Aides
  • Paraprofessionals, (Teacher Aides, LPN's, Health Assistants)
  • Any other staff whose annual work schedule coincides with the teachers annual work schedule

*On School Closure Days, these groups will be paid as governed by their respective Collective Bargaining Agreements, if applicable.

When schools are closed, the following groups ARE required to report to work:

  • Principals
  • Member of the Administrators Union
  • Non-Union Administrators
  • Civil Services Clerks
  • Operation of Plant (Custodians) Staff
  • Facilities (Tradesmen) Staff
  • Non-Bargaining Employees
  • Parent Information Center Staff (excluding Unit A Staff)
  • Central Office Non-Union Administrative Support Staff
  • Technicians Union

*Operation of Plant personnel are governed by the terms of their Contract, for snow removal and emergencies.

DISTRICT CLOSURE

On rare occasions, there will be times when the entire district is closed and that will mean no employees (other than custodians) report to work. The district will close when Springfield City Hall Offices are closed.

DELAYED OPENING OF SCHOOL

In the event that unusual circumstances result in a “Delayed Opening” of School, please keep in mind that this delay is for STUDENTS ONLY. ALL STAFF ARE TO REPORT TO WORK AT THEIR REGULAR TIME. If you are going to be late, please contact your immediate Administrator to inform him/her of your status. The Springfield Public Schools expects you to use reasonable judgment and precaution, but to understand your employment responsibility in this matter.

Please visit www.springfieldpublicschools, SPS social media platforms and/or expect an automated phone message from the district for information on closings and delays.

WEATHER LEAVE

In the event that the appropriate school personnel report to work on a school closure day as required but later in the day are released from work by order of the Superintendent, then those employees may code those un-worked regular hours as "weather leave." Those employees will be paid for the hours clocked as weather leave.

However, employees who are expected to report to work on a school closure day but fail to do so may not use the "weather leave" code for those un-worked hours. Instead, the type of leave coded for their time will be determined by their manager in accordance with regular leave policies and in consultation with the Department Chief and Superintendent.

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