COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA - Council Bluffs Community Schools want families to be prepared for winter weather and possible snow days.Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo wants parents to know they will consider the option this year for possible two-hour late starts or 2 hour early dismissals instead of canceling school for the full day.
The release states the options will be considered based on timing and severity of the winter weather and the impact of wind chill and road conditions.
The late start allows families to avoid rush hour traffic, provide time for streets, sidewalks and parking lots to be cleared and reduce the need for students to travel when it is dark.Dismissing 2 hours early could help families avoid unsafe roads.
In a news release from the district:
On Mondays, due to the early dismissal, they will not call a 2-hour late start, but would instead cancel school for the entire day.
The District will alert families to the decision of a 2-hour late start or early dismissal the evening before, if possible. A late start or early dismissal may turn into a full-day closure if a review of the AM weather forecast warrants such a change. An updated message will be communicated to families if a change is necessary.
Late Start
For a 2-hour late start, school start times will be as follows, Tuesday-Friday:
● Elementary/Full-Day Preschool: 10:55 AM
● Middle School: 9:30 AM
● High School: 10:00 AM
Bus stop pick-up times will be 2 hours later than normal. Breakfast will also begin 2 hours later than normal.
Kids & Company will be open normal hours, beginning at 6:15 AM for families already registered for morning care.
There will be no morning preschool. Early morning activity practices will be canceled, but school lunch will be served as usual on days with late starts.
Early Dismissal
For a 2-hour early dismissal, release times will be as follows, Monday-Friday:
● Elementary/Full-Day Preschool: 1:45 PM
● Middle School: 12:30 PM
● High School: 1:10 PM
Buses will leave school 2 hours earlier than normal. Lunch will be provided prior to the early dismissal. Kids & Company will open 2 hours early for families already registered. There will be no afternoon preschool. After-school clubs, practices and activities will be canceled or postponed on days of a weather-related early dismissal. School-sponsored evening activities will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
All weather-related changes to the school schedule will be communicated to parents by email and automated phone calls. We will also share the information on social media and through the local news stations.
We understand the inconvenience that weather cancellations, delays, and early dismissals can create for families. Please know that I will make school delay or closing decisions as early as possible based on the best information available, and with student and staff safety as the main priority.