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Delays and Closures/Inclement Weather

District personnel attempt to make weather decisions in the best interest of student safety. Please note: bad weather in one part of the district will dictate the decision for the entire district.

Our district extends along Highway 24 from the east end of Manitou Springs (at 6,200 ft. elevation), thru Ute Pass, and west to the Teller County line (at 8,000 ft. elevation). Because of this, multiple weather conditions can exist at the same time within the district. Our bus garage and Ute Pass Elementary can be experiencing a blizzard while it is just overcast in Manitou Springs; conversely, Ute Pass Elementary can be “above the clouds,” while it is snowing in Manitou Springs. Also, meteorological forecasts are sometimes inaccurate. As a result, district personnel may misjudge weather situations. Due to this, parents are encouraged to keep their children at home if they consider weather and road conditions dangerous. In such cases, students will be excused and will be allowed to make up any missed work if parents report the absence to their child’s school.

The Inclement Weather Procedures:
Please review these procedures with your children, day care providers, and others with whom you entrust your children.
The district announces delays and closures several ways:

We will report our status through the Flash Alert network, which notifies local radio and TV stations of delayed start and/or school closure information.

  • on line at www.flashalert.net (select Colorado Springs -- School Districts -- Manitou Springs SD 14)
  • on line on the district web site at www.mssd14.org, FaceBook and District App
  • with an automated calling system to notify student families and district staff

Please do not rely on only one system for notification; if it appears conditions may warrant a weather related delay or closure, please check between the local TV stations and/or check at the web sites listed above.

TWO-HOUR DELAYED STARTS:
In case of a two-hour delay, buses will run and classes will start two hours later than usual, and classes will end at the normal time.

  • Local TV and radio stations will be informed by 6:00 a.m. of the delayed start.
  • If the decision is made to open school after the delay, no additional announcements will be made.
  • If the decision is subsequently made to cancel school, local stations will be informed by 8:00 a.m. Keep checking the stations or the web sites.
  • Decisions will also be posted at www.mssd14.org and www.flashalert.net
  • Morning Preschool classes are cancelled on two-hour delayed start days.

DISTRICT CLOSING:
If the decision is made to cancel school, local TV and radio stations will be asked to announce that the district is closed.

  • Local TV and radio stations will be informed by 6:00 a.m. of the closing if there will be no delayed start, or by 8:00 a.m. if there is a delayed start.
  • This decision will also be posted at www.mssd14.org, FaceBook, District App and www.flashalert.net
  • All meetings and activities/athletic practices and events are also cancelled if there is an early dismissal unless otherwise notified.


EARLY DISMISSAL:
If school is in session and a storm develops, a decision may be made to send students home early. The procedure will be as follows:

If the decision is made to release school early, each bus driver and building principal will be notified. Bus drivers will make their regular runs in the same
sequence as usual, but at the earlier time.

  • Please review with your children what they are to do if there is an early dismissal.
  • If parents believe the weather is bad enough at anytime during the day, the parent or guardian can pick up their child.
  • Information about an early dismissal will be provided to TV and radio stations and will also be posted on the district web site www.mssd14.org, FaceBook, District App and at www.flashalert.net
  • Principals will remain at their buildings until it has been determined that all students have been transported safely and all students have left the
  • buildings.
  • All meetings and activities/athletic practices and events are also cancelled if there is an early dismissal unless otherwise notified.


Regular Dismissal with After School Activities Cancelled:
Decisions regarding the cancellation of after school activities will be made as early as possible, with student, staff, and parent safety as our top priority.
When possible, we will try to have a decision made prior to the last hour of school, to give transportation providers an opportunity to adjust.
Please note that parents have the ultimate responsibility and right to determine what is safe for their children. If they do not agree with the district's decision to have after school activities/events and would like their student to not participate in the after school activity/event, they may certainly make the decision for their child to not participate without penalty/consequence.

Stay Updated with Alerts
To receive real-time notifications about delays, closures, and other important updates, make sure your contact information is up to date with your school. You can also subscribe to text alerts by texting “Y” or “Yes” to 67587. For the latest updates, visit our website and follow us on social media. (Please view more information about text messaging here.)

Download the Manitou Springs SD 14 District App
Calendars, Alerts/School Closures, Menu's, Bus Routes,  Directories, and more.
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