Click here to download a copy of our Inclement Weather Procedures.
Following are Newton County School System's procedures for inclement weather and how the district handles school cancellations.
NCSS schools and facilities may close in the event of hazardous weather or other emergencieswhich present threats to the safety of students, staff, or school property.
The superintendent makes the decision about school closing based on a cross-divisional and cross-agency effort,
with information from public safety officials, the Georgia Emergency
Management Agency, Newton County officials, and school district
operations and transportation employees. When inclement weather is an
issue, members of our Operations and Transportation teams head out as
early as 3:30 or 4 a.m. to drive roads around the county and assess road
conditions. Our Transportation staff also checks to ensure that buses
are operable.
If severe weather occurs or is predicted in advance, the
school superintendent will try to make a decision by 10 p.m. the night
before a school closure. Weather changes quickly and as a result, it is not always possible to make an accurate decision by 10 p.m. If a definite decision to close schools cannot be made by 10 p.m.,
Newton County School System personnel will monitor weather and road
conditions overnight and into early morning hours. If a school closing
is necessary, the Superintendent would make that decision no later than 5 a.m. on the morning of the school closure.
School closing announcements would then be posted on the Newton
County School System website, the district's Facebook and Twitter pages,
and on metro-Atlanta television stations. In addition, a School
Messenger Call would go out to NCSS families and employees. Please do
not call the schools or central office to inquire about possible school
closings as that occupies phone lines and delays a district
announcement.It is very important that parents keep phone
information up-to-date as School Messenger utilizes parent contact
information on file in Infinite Campus.
Should weather become severe during the school day resulting in the
need to dismiss students early, the Newton County School System would
initiate an Emergency School Messenger Call to parents. As with a school
cancellation, the early dismissal announcement would be posted on the
NCSS website, Facebook, and Twitter pages, and metro-Atlanta television
stations will also be notified.
The key factor in all decisions about whether or not to hold school is the safety of students and staff.