As a reminder to Jamestown Public School students and their parents/guardians, when weather conditions develop that warrant the closing of Jamestown Public Schools, announcements will be broadcast on area radio and television stations.
The automated telephone calling system will be in use. Parents and students can expect to receive telephone messages on delayed openings or school closings, as long as their telephone contact information is up-to-date in the district's system. Parents can update telephone contact information by calling their child's school's main office.
The first announcement concerning the closing or delayed opening of the Jamestown Public Schools will typically be made before 6:30 a.m. The closing of schools will automatically eliminate transportation to all other schools that are normally served by the district. There will be no interscholastic athletic sports practice or after school programming on snow days. If a parent or guardian feels that weather conditions in their immediate area of the school district warrant keeping small children at home, that is their decision. New York state considers the parent's decision to be a legal excuse for an absence. Please keep in mind that the school closing decision must be based on overall district-wide conditions.
If the circumstances require a delayed opening the following rules will apply:
When there is a delayed opening, there will be bus runs. Both the bus runs and the school opening will be delayed one or two hours. The announcement broadcast on the radio/TV will state for example, "delayed opening of two hours." This includes all regular and special education children.
When there is a delayed opening, breakfast will not be served in the Jamestown Public Schools.
When there is a delayed opening, before school programs will be cancelled.
When there is a delayed opening of one or two hours, full day pre-kindergarten classes at Bush Elementary School, including the Head Start class, and Love Elementary School will operate on the delayed schedule. Morning pre-kindergarten classes at Fletcher, Lincoln, Ring, A Children's Place and Heritage House will be cancelled for the day, but afternoon classes at these sites will meet at the regularly scheduled time unless parents are contacted.
When there is a delayed opening, the starting times will be:
ONE-HOUR DELAY
Elementary Schools - 9:20 a.m.
Middle Schools - 9:30 a.m.
JHS - 9:00 a.m.
TWO-HOUR DELAY
Elementary Schools - 10:20 a.m.
Middle Schools - 10:30 a.m.
JHS - 10 a.m.
If a "delayed opening" decision must be changed to a "school closing" decision, the district will attempt to make the final call by 8:30 a.m.
Once schools are in session, they will usually remain open if adverse weather conditions develop during the day. Each household should develop an emergency plan within their own family for any such circumstance. Parents are advised to make sure school officials have the appropriate emergency contact numbers.
In cases of inclement weather, after-school and evening activities may be cancelled under normal circumstances. A decision will be made by 2 p.m. and local radio stations will be notified. When after-school and evening activities are cancelled, most students must go home at the regular dismissal time. There will be no late buses.
In such inclement weather circumstances, after school child care programs will be prepared to receive children. However, because late bus runs will not occur, parents will need to pick up their children as soon as reasonably possible. After-school staff will stay with the children until all children are picked up. All other activities including clubs, sports, alternative education, board meetings, etc. will be cancelled for that evening.
If parents wants to pick up students during the school day at any time throughout the school year, it is necessary for the parent or adult acting on behalf of the parent to identify themselves to the satisfaction of the building principal. Students will not be released to unauthorized students, neighbors, friends, or relatives without the specific written authorization granted by the student's parent or guardian.