Winter Weather Procedures
Prior to making a decision to cancel school due to inclement weather, district administrators monitor road and parking conditions, sidewalk accessibility, temperatures and precipitation amounts. Serious considerations are given to the following areas:
Safety of facilities (heat, air, power, parking lots, etc.)
Safety of transportation (road conditions on streets traveled by buses, timely route completion)
Ability of students who drive to navigate road conditions and parking lots
Safety of students who walk to school
Ability of instructional and support staff to travel to schools and/or district offices and provide appropriate supervision and critical services such as food service for students.
When inclement weather occurs or is in the forecast, district officials maintain close communication with the National Weather Service and City of Norman personnel. When schools must be closed due to inclement weather, the following considerations are important:
The district endeavors to announce the decision to close as soon as possible and reports the information to parents and local news media.
All days missed due to weather conditions will be made up as needed to meet the school year requirement.
When winter conditions develop during the school day, schools will not be dismissed early because many parents work and students could potentially be arriving home to a locked house.
If the weather begins to deteriorate during the school day, parents may pick up their student(s) early without penalty.
If inclement weather is forecasted and school is not canceled but parents believe it is in the best interest of their children’s health and safety to have them at home, the absence will be excused.
Local Meteorologists
We remain in close contact with our partners at the National Weather Service in Norman and Weather Decision Technologies for forecast information.
Bus Route, Road & Parking Lot Conditions
Approximately 14,000 students ride the bus to & from school, and these routes cover over 180 square miles each day. We want students, families and staff to be able to drive safely to school.
Temperature & Sidewalk Conditions
Since some students walk to school, we also consider estimated temperatures and wind chill and sidewalk conditions.
Other Closures
Additionally, we consider closures of other local school districts, the University of Oklahoma and City of Norman offices.
The safety of students, families, and staff is the top priority during weather events.
School closure decisions will be made by the night before, or by 6 a.m. if necessary. Notifications will be sent via phone, text, email, the NPS website, social media, and local media. Ensure your contact information is updated in Infinite Campus to receive alerts.
If school is open but parents feel it's unsafe for their children, absences will be excused.
NPS spans a large area, and weather conditions may vary across the district. Decisions are made considering the entire district, acknowledging that conditions differ by location.