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Radio Stations |
Television Stations |
WMNC: 92.1 FM
WCIS: 760 AM
WHKY: 1290 AM
WNNC/WAIZ: 1230 AM
WKVS: 103.3 FM/1080
AM
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www.burke.k12.nc.us
Burke County Public Schools'
Weather Hotline
828-433-8047
press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish.
|
In
the case of inclement or severe weather, local radio stations
are notified: WMNC (92.1 FM),
WCIS (760 AM), WHKY (1290 AM), WNNC/WAIZ (1230/630
AM), and WKVS (103.3 FM).
Parents and students
are requested to listen to one of these radio stations as the source
of information concerning delay, closing, or early dismissal of
Burke County Public Schools.
Secondary sources of information are
the following television stations: WBTV (Channel 3), NBC 6,
WSPA (Channel 7), WSOC (Channel 9), and WLOS (Channel
13) and WCCB (Fox News), or call
the school system's weather number 828-433-8047, press 1 for English
and
2 for Spanish.
The closing information is also listed on our website -
www.burke.k12.nc.us.
Parents of students and school personnel with active phone numbers
will also be notified with a phone call using our AlertNow System.
School personnel who remain in continuous contact with the local law
enforcement and the Highway Patrol always monitor weather
conditions. The decision to close or delay school is made by school
officials between 5:00 – 5:30 a.m. The local media will be notified of
any school cancellation, early dismissal, or delay and given
information of alternate schedules or other pertinent information.
If these media sources are not announcing information concerning
Burke County Public Schools, then the schools operate on a normal
schedule.
Parents who have children in the Burke County Public Schools Child
Care Programs should note that the childcare programs follow the
school system's policy on severe weather. If school is cancelled,
then the childcare program will be cancelled. A decision to
hold extracurricular events will be made on a case-by-case basis
(weather conditions may clear later in the day).
When the decision is made to have school on a two-hour delay, we will
announce if the delay is for students only or for students and
staff. Many times the TV stations will not make this distinction, so
if there is a two-hour delay you might want to tune to a local radio
station or call the school system's weather number 433-8047,
press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish. Please remember that
when we have a two-hour delay our buses are on the road as
early as 7:30 a.m. That would basically be the time that most
faculty and staff come to work.
On
an optional workday, if any employee feels that the roads are
unsafe to travel, the school district will work with the
employee to make up the day at another time.
Safety of our students and staff is
our top priority!
In preparation of the
winter season, the following procedures will be utilized as part
of the Burke County Public Schools Inclement Weather Plan.
A. School
Closings. When
students do not attend school due to weather conditions, one
of three options will be available to employees:
1)
Optional Teacher Workday -
Ten-month
employees will have the option of reporting
to work, taking annual leave, having a full
day’s deduction if they do not have annual
leave, or making-up the absence according to
state personnel policy guidelines. Each
employee will have to determine if
conditions are safe enough to come to school
or work.
2) Closed
for Students and Instructional Staff -
All ten-month
instructional staff will be forced to take
annual leave or have a full day’s salary
deduction. The student make-up day will be
scheduled elsewhere in the school calendar,
possibly on a day previously designated as
annual leave/vacation. Instructional
personnel will have the option to make-up
the day on an agreed time, either on a
school-by-school basis or on a system wide
make-up day. Twelve-month employees will
report to work, take annual leave, or take a
full day’s salary deduction.
3)
Closed for Everyone -
The third option will be to declare the
school system closed for all staff. In
this case, all employees will be forced
to take an annual leave day or a full
day’s salary deduction with the option
to make-up the day at a designated time.
Unless it is
a situation where we have buildings that
are unusable due to conditions such as
leaking pipes or power outages, option 1
will most likely be selected. This will
give personnel the opportunity to decide
on the use of leave days. Options two
and three would be reserved for unusable
facilities and situations where it is
felt impractical to open the schools.
The board of education will have final
authority in determining the make-up
schedule for missed days. We will use
make-up days as established in the
school calendar, when possible, and make
other scheduling arrangements for staff
that wish to make-up time.
B. Early Dismissal.
When school is dismissed early due to
inclement conditions or other emergency
situations, all ten-month employees are
to remain at school until students are
adequately cared for at each individual
school. Staff members may be dismissed
at that time by their principal, if
conditions merit such a dismissal. The
principal may also work with staff
members who live farther away and allow
them to leave as soon as possible while
other staff members who live closer to
the school remain and assist with the
dismissal of students. Even with the
best efforts in notifying parents, some
children will remain at school for an
extended period of time. Principals
should have a plan in place to provide
for adequate supervision for the
students left at school until released
to their parents or guardians.
All
twelve-month employees are expected to
remain for their regular working day
until dismissed by the Superintendent
due to severe weather. If twelve-month
employees decide to leave earlier than
their regular workday, annual leave or
appropriate leave will be charged.
C.
Delay Start.
When
school is delayed due to inclement
weather or other unforeseen
circumstances, all ten-month employees
are expected to arrive at school at the
earliest and safest time. Many parents
will usually bring children early in the
morning. Therefore, administrators will
need assistance from their staff in
providing for students as they arrive.
Procedures should be in place to
accommodate these children. Under no
circumstances should children remain
outside on very cold and/or snowy
mornings. If ten-month employees
elect to arrive late, then they should
work with their supervisor to make-up
the time or have a salary deduction for
the time missed. Twelve-month employees
are expected to arrive at their normal
time. Again, failure to report to work
will result in leave being charged.
D. Safety.
Everyone should exercise caution and use
good judgment in making the decisions
about school closing/early
dismissal/delay start situations.
Specific questions should be directed to
the principal.
