SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Public Schools made the decision to delay the start of school on Thursday morning as heavy snow fell in the area. SPS said if conditions deteriorate it will provide an update.
The decision to stay open comes as several other large school districts, including Central Valley, West Valley and Mead, all decided to close.
Spokane schools said in an email, “parents are always encouraged to consider the conditions of their neighborhood and the wellbeing of their student in deciding whether to keep their student(s) home. Students are excused from school when parents so request.”
Dr. Adam Swinyard, Superintendent of SPS tweeted more information about the district's decision.
"For many students, schools provide a warm environment and meals they might not otherwise receive. Parents can keep their students home as an excused absence if they are concerned about the weather. Closing school for 30,000 students is no small decision," Dr. Swinyard said. "For some families, closing school has little impact, but for others it has enormous ramifications. It's also worth mentioning that we have over 700 students experiencing homelessness and school is their safe place."
SPS said the two-hour delay would allow crews to plow major arterials and streets in and around schools.
Start times for Spokane Schools:
8 a.m.
- The Express childcare program will open at 8 a.m. for enrolled families.
10 a.m.
- High schools,
- The Community School
- MAP
- IST at NC
- Odyssey Program
10:30 a.m.
- Elementary schools
- Montessori
- Pratt Academy
11 a.m.
- Middle schools
Cancellations:
- Pre-school programs
- Tessera
- Morning session at the NEWTech Skill Center for SPS students
- Zero-hour classes at high schools
- Programs usually held prior to the start of school
How Spokane Public Schools decides on snow days
Prior to the snow, SPS shared details about how it makes the call to cancel or delay school.
SPS has a Weather Alert Team that starts working the night before a major expected snow event. That team includes district leaders and officials from Durham buses.
At 3:00 am, Durham supervisors start driving school bus routes on the north and south sides of the city. They make reports and send recommendations to the district leadership.
At 5:00 am, the SPS superintendent and communications director hold a briefing where a final decision about the district’s status is made. If there will be a cancellation or delay, the district starts the process of notifying parents and staff.
How to know if there are Spokane Public School changes
The district will notify parents and staff in several ways:
- Alerts sent to families using the district’s notification system, including texts, calls, and emails.
- Update posted on spokaneschools.org
- Update posted on SPS Facebook page and Twitter
- You can also get the updates on Up with KREM and on our school closings page on KREM.com.