School closure, delay and early dismissal due to
weather, road conditions and power outages are always a possibility
in North Kitsap.
Road conditions may vary in different parts of our district so
parents and guardians should always use their own discretion in determining
whether to send children to school or pick them up early if they feel
conditions in their particular area are not safe.
Because student safety is our number one priority and many of
our parents/guardians are not able to return home from work to meet their
children, our district will only dismiss students early from school in extreme
situations. Parents should have a back-up plan if this happens. In the event of
worsening weather conditions, the district may decide to release and
transport secondary students (grades 6-12) early so that buses are ready
to pick up elementary students at the scheduled time.
Making the Decision to Close or Delay School
When inclement weather is predicted, several factors determine when schools will be closed or delayed.
We rely on local meteorologist expertise and closely watch weather predictions and possible changes in conditions throughout the day. This includes subscribing to twice-daily weather updates specifically for North Kitsap from November through March.
The district has designated personnel that drive sectors of the district in the very early morning hours to determine if major roads are passable and whether snow routes will be in affect. The director of Transportation and Transportation supervisor are just two of the people that drive the district.
Additionally, the superintendent coordinates with neighboring districts regarding the decision to delay or close schools due to inclement weather.
With 110 square miles of land and several micro-climates within the NKSD boundaries, it is possible that some small areas may be experiencing hazardous road conditions for a short period of time, while the majority of the district is not experiencing any hazardous road conditions.
Types of Closures or Delays