Emergency School Closings / Severe Weather

When the wind chill is -30°F or less OR the actual temperature is -15°F or less, a wind chill warning is in effect, indicating that life-threatening conditions and a risk to safety exist. Measures should be taken to safeguard life and property immediately.

• Schools will be closed under the severe cold condition of a wind chill warning. 
• All notification systems will be leveraged to send school cancelation communications to families.
• Extracurricular activities will be suspended while the wind chill warning is in effect.

The National Weather Service (NWS) will be the meteorological source to determine and declare a wind chill warning or wind chill advisory. Information provided by Mr. Paul Sirvatka, Professor of meteorology, forecasting, weather analysis, climatology, atmospheric sciences, and severe and unusual weather at the College of DuPage. Dr. Alexander Means, MD, is the Chief Resident of the University of Chicago's Department of Dermatology.

When the wind-chill is -20°F to -29°F OR the actual temperature is -5°F to -14°F, a wind chill advisory is in effect, indicating conditions are not life-threatening but present conditions that may result in inconveniences or post moderate risk to safety. 

• Schools will be open and student attendance is expected.

• Based on available space, buses will pick up all student walkers regardless of route assignment.
• Fire and police will be notified prior to the start of the school day of the Severe Cold Action designation.
• Extracurricular activities will be evaluated and may be suspended if conditions persist; updates will be posted on each school's website.
• All off-campus activities will be suspended (this includes but is not limited to all off-site daytime programs, field trips, and work programs).
• Scheduled student transports between buildings will be assessed.
• All outside student activities will be suspended.
• All lab-based activities that have the potential to cause fire or smoke alarm activation will be reevaluated or rescheduled; communication and coordination with the impacted departments will be conducted by the building administration.
• Students will be allowed to keep outerwear with them while in the building.
• Schools will make announcements to provide access to donated outerwear to all students.
• Any drills scheduled (evacuation, fire, or lockdown) will be canceled and rescheduled to a more weather-appropriate day.

The National Weather Service (NWS) will be the meteorological source to determine and declare a wind chill warning or wind chill advisory. Information provided by Mr. Paul Sirvatka, Professor of meteorology, forecasting, weather analysis, climatology, atmospheric sciences, and severe and unusual weather at the College of DuPage. Dr. Alexander Means, MD, is the Chief Resident of the University of Chicago's Department of Dermatology.

District 15 monitors the weather through the National Weather Service. During an extreme heat warning, our Facility Department will work to keep schools comfortable and troubleshoot issues as they arise with some of our older systems. That said, extreme temperatures will put additional strain on our air conditioning units. Based on extreme heat forecasts:

• Students will be let into the building 15 minutes before school begins;

• Recess will be indoors;

• PE classes will be held indoors;

• PE activities will be low impact;

• Interscholastic sports may be held indoors, rescheduled, or canceled; 

• We will still have Boys and Girls Club and afterschool CARE, REC, and STAR at the buildings that offer them. 

Transportation

We have received a number of inquiries about whether or not our buses are air conditioned. Our smaller special education buses and buses with lifts have air conditioning, but our regular school buses are not air conditioned. Bus windows and vents on the top of the bus will remain open to help circulate air. Please know that without air conditioning, it will be hot on the bus in the afternoon. If buses are running late, students  will wait inside until their bus arrives. If you feel more comfortable, and are able, please feel free to drive your child(ren) to/from school over the next few days. If your child’s method of pick-up changes, please remember to notify the teacher/school office.

We ask that you please send your child(ren) to school with water and dress them for the weather, i.e., lightweight clothing to help keep them cool.

As our handbook states, when severe weather conditions exist, parents/guardians must decide whether their children can get to school safely. Even when the District decides to keep schools open, parents/guardians should review their own situation to determine if they feel comfortable sending their children to school. If you choose to keep your child(ren) home, we will excuse the absence. Please remember to call the school office and state the weather as your reason for keeping your child home.

Elementary students generally go outside for recess every day. Therefore, they should dress appropriately for the weather. Exceptions are made only when a child brings a doctor’s note excusing them from outdoor recess. 

Cold weather 

Indoor recess is determined based on the following guidelines:

• If the temperature outside, together with the wind chill, is below 0°F, all students will remain inside for the entire lunch hour.

• If the temperature outside, together with the wind chill, is between 0°–10°F, the preferred procedure is a rotation of 20 minutes for lunch, a 20-minute outdoor recess, and a 20-minute indoor recess. However, at the principal’s discretion, the students may be kept inside for the entire lunch hour.

• If the temperature outside, together with the wind chill, is above 10°F, students will have regular outdoor recess.

Warm weather 

Students will be outside for recess/PE if the temperature (or heat index) is below 100 degrees. Students will be inside for recess/PE if the temperature (or heat index) is 100 degrees or above.

Other considerations include the condition of the playground and the presence of precipitation. For indoor recess, students are supervised in their classrooms.