Snow Changes Baltimore Co. School Plans For Dec. 15

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — With weekend snowfall ranging from 2 to 6 inches, all Baltimore County Public Schools and offices will be under a delayed start on Monday, Dec. 15.

District officials announced the delay late Sunday afternoon.

The late start means there will be no AM PreKindergarten. Offices will open on time as scheduled.

The district said it will provide an update by 7 a.m. Monday if there are any changes to the system's operating status.

School District Guidelines On Weather Delays, Closings

Information about school operations is announced publicly as soon as possible on local radio and television stations and other media including the Internet.

• BCPS Web Home Page links to page displaying emergency announcements
• BCPS TV, Comcast Cable Channel 1073 & Verizon Fios Channel 34
• Local radio and television stations

The BCPS Inclement Weather FAQ

How does BCPS decide whether to close or delay the opening of schools for inclement weather

Keeping children and staff safe is the main factor in any decision to close or delay the opening of schools.

Information about the weather is gathered and considered from many sources before a decision is made:

• BCPS receives hourly updates from AccuWeather and other weather information sources about current local weather conditions and forecasted conditions.
• As early as 2:30 a.m. on a school day, a team of school transportation personnel patrols county roads, bus stops, and known problem areas and reports on road conditions. In addition, reports are collected and considered from the Maryland State Police and Baltimore County highways department.
• School personnel consider the safety of walking routes, sidewalks, school driveways, bus loops, and school parking lots.
• BCPS collaborates with county transportation officials as well as neighboring school systems to confirm weather reports, track the progress of a storm, and determine the condition of streets and sidewalks.

Why does BCPS close schools or delay opening schools for inclement weather?

To provide a quality education for every student, BCPS supports every opportunity to ensure that students are in class and learning; however, when weather conditions or forecasted conditions threaten the safety of children and staff, we must make decisions to cancel classes to ensure students and staff are able to get to school safely or return home without incident.

What happens when a decision is made to close or delay schools?

When the Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools decides to close or delay school openings because of inclement weather, the decision is made with great care and deliberation. Many aspects of school operations are affected – bus and staff schedules must be altered; parents must be notified; and the media must be informed. Timing is crucial, as BCPS is a large school system with 111,000 students. If schools are to close for the day, an announcement will be made by 5:30 a.m. If schools are to close early, or if afternoon or evening programs are to be cancelled, the decision will be made as much in advance as possible. Please note that school closures also include the Virtual Learning Program.

Once the decision is made, it is communicated within minutes to the media and posted on BCPS web site, the Education Channel (cable channel 73), the BCPS school status information phone line.

Information is also sent immediately to parents and the community. Safeguards are provided to ensure that the information is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable.

Where can I find information about BCPS school closings or delays?

There are several places to find out information:

• BCPS school status information line: 443-809-5555
• TV/Radio: local radio and television stations, including The Education Channel, Comcast Cable Channel 73.
• BCPS Home page Please do not call schools or media outlets for this information.

For more information regarding Emergency Closures, Delayed Openings, and Early Dismissals of Schools and/or Offices, please refer to Rule 6303.