For the safety of staff and students, Guilford Public Schools will consider two options in the event of potentially hazardous traveling conditions on school mornings.

1) Close school completely.

2) Delay the opening of school for two hours. All morning bus schedules will be delayed for two hours. Schools will close at the regular time.

Pre-K Programs will operate under the following schedules when the two hour delay is employed:

Full Day Pre-K Program: 11:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.

Pre-K Program (A.M.): sessions will be canceled

Pre-K Program (P.M.): 12:50 to 3:25 p.m.

In the event that school is closed or delayed, the information will be communicated through the following outlets:

1) A SchoolMessenger email message will be sent to the first two email addresses parents or guardians have provided to GPS.

2) TV Stations: WTNH-TV (Channel 8), FOX 61 (Channel 61), WVIT-TV (Channel 30), WFSB-TV (Channel 3), and GCTV (local TV Channel 19)

(3) Radio stations: WKSS (95.7 FM), WWYZ (92.5 FM), and WHCH (105.9 FM)

(4) Website: www.guilfordschools.org

(5) Call 203-453-8200; press 6 to hear an updated message

(6) Text message to families and staff who have opted in for this service

Please do not call the town’s Communication Center for information relating to school closings.

Early Dismissals

If a storm begins during the school day and shows signs of developing into a potentially dangerous situation, schools will be closed early to get children home quickly and safely. In this type of situation, P.M. Pre-K sessions will be canceled.

If a storm begins during the school day, a SchoolMessenger telephone, text, and email message will be sent to all contacts provided to the schools. The district website will display this information and the radio and TV stations will be notified as soon as possible.

Parents are asked to make provisions for their children who will arrive home early in the event schools are dismissed early for weather-related reasons.

Please Note

• There may be times when the weather worsens quickly and the schools have missed the window of time to officially call an early dismissal. In this situation, buses may pick up students at school approximately 15 minutes earlier than normal to allow more travel time for the buses under deteriorating conditions. The SchoolMessenger emergency contact system will be implemented to send email, phone, and text messages to all contacts provided to make parents aware of the early dismissal. Please be assured that bus drivers will not leave a young child at home if there is no one there. Drivers will attempt to contact a parent/guardian; if they are unable to, the child will be returned to school.

• When Guilford Public Schools are canceled because of inclement weather, Guilford pupils will not be transported to schools out of the district.

• The Police Department recommends to parents that it is safer for children to take school buses on days of inclement weather than for parents to provide transportation since buses are equipped with snow tires and chains. This action also reduces the number of cars on the road and minimizes the possibility of mishap.

• If you have specific questions about these procedures, please contact your building principal.