Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Carroll ISD Inclement Winter Weather Procedure Reminder

With Texas’ ever-changing weather, Carroll ISD would like to remind the community the procedure for inclement winter weather.

The district considers the safety of our students and staff a top priority and will always respond first to the immediate emergency. After ensuring the safety of our Dragons, our next priority will be communicating with parents. Parents may not receive an immediate storm communication while the district manages the actual emergency.

Carroll ISD monitors the National Weather Service and local meteorologist forecasts before making decisions to close or delay school. Officials try to provide details about school closings to staff, students and parents before 6 a.m. Keep in mind that district buses begin their routes very early, but conditions change so rapidly in Texas that sometimes conditions and temperatures improve by the time buses begin their routes. So, the decision regarding the school schedule may not be made until the early morning hours before a school day. When at all possible, we do consider compelling facts in order to make a decision the night before.

Factors considered before making a weather-related decision about school include:

  • road conditions, temperatures
  • the presence of snow, ice, and sleet
  • teen driver safety
  • sidewalk and parking lot conditions; and
  • the ability for staff who live outside our district to get to work
  • whether or not HVAC systems are operating correctly; and
  • whether or not neighboring school districts are having school.

Key Communication Steps by Carroll ISD to announce weather alerts:

  • Respond first to emergency internally by communicating with staff and securing students
  • Post Twitter/Facebook alerts
  • Add weather announcements on District Website and MySouthlakeNews.com
  • Send weather alerts through Mobile Dragon App
  • Call and Email staff and parents via Connect-ED telephone notification system

District Website, MySouthlakeNews.com, & Social Media: Twitter is one of the first forms of communication for Carroll ISD. You can follow @Carrollisd for official alerts and notices using the hashtag #SAFEdragon. When the situation permits, the district will also post closings to the district’s website at www.southlakecarroll.edu, Facebook page, and MySouthlakeNews.com. Social media is a great way to connect and interact with our students online. However, students and adults are reminded that although we want to connect with them on social media, they are to remain respectful of authority when communicating.

Social Media Reminder:  False reports of school closings, accidents or injuries by students will not be tolerated, nor will inappropriate language or references that violate the Student Code of Conduct. Remind your child that social media sites are monitored by district officials. Please help us teach the students the appropriate way to communicate. Before posting, THINK – is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?

Mobile Dragon App:  You can download our free Mobile Dragon App by searching for Carroll Dragons in the app store on your smartphone.  Once the app is downloaded to your phone, you can change the settings and notifications to alert you when messages are texted from Carroll ISD to followers via the mobile app. Once Carroll ISD has tweeted the weather-related message under the hashtag #SAFEdragon, a similar/consistent message will be sent through the Dragon Mobile app.

Emergency Notification System: Weather-related school closings and delays will be communicated to employees and parents via the district’s emergency telephone notification system (Connect-ED). The system can call ALL the emergency contact numbers simultaneously. NOTE:  Please be sure that your contact information is up-to-date in Skyward Family Access. The district uses the emergency contact information provided by parents for the emergency notification system. Staff and student information are updated nightly to ensure accurate communications. In addition to a phone call, staff and parents should also receive a corresponding written email message.

Radio & Television Announcements: Official announcements during inclement weather will still be made on DFW radio and television stations, including WBAP News Talk 820 AM, KRLD 1080-AM and on KXAS Channel 5, KDFW Fox 4 News, KTVT Channel 11 and WFAA Channel 8.

Questions about district procedures may be directed to the Board & Community Relations Department at 817-949-7080.

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