One of the primary goals of the Weld Re-5J School District is to protect the safety and well-being of every student. When severe weather conditions develop, a decision to close school will only be made after carefully considering a number of factors including information from area weather reports, county roads department, and the Colorado Highway Patrol.

When weather conditions make traveling hazardous, schools may not open as scheduled or may close early. The decision to close school will be made as early as possible, preferably by 6:00 a.m. by the superintendent in consultation with the director of transportation. Television stations will be notified immediately after the decision is made so that students, parents, and staff are promptly informed. Parents will also receive an automated phone message notifying them of a school closure.

When maintaining the regular schedule might result in large numbers of students being unable to return home safely, or the school buildings have lost power, school may be dismissed early. Every effort will be made to follow the regular end-of-the-day dismissal schedule since changing that schedule can cause confusion for parents and students.

Bus transportation is an important factor in determining whether school should be closed or an early dismissal to be ordered. Bus drivers are trained to watch that children are able to enter their residence. If the house is locked, the child is to return to the bus and continue on the route back to the bus barn. Of equal concern in making an early closing decision, are the students who reside in town. If dismissed from school they may have several blocks to walk in severe weather and then arrive at their home that could be locked. Without supervision, they may not know what to do and be stranded outside.