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Winter months bring with them the possibility of school closures – or delayed openings or early closings due to severe weather conditions.

Decisions to close school or delay starting times are always difficult. Before a decision is made, school officials monitor weather conditions and personally check roads in higher elevation areas. If conditions are severe enough to threaten the safety of students traveling to and from school, a decision is made to close or delay school.

This decision is made by 6 a.m.

Two Hour Late Opening:  All schools and bus route times will begin two hours later than regular starting times.  Schools will end at the normal times.

If the late opening is on a Wednesday, there will be no school for K-8 students, but staff will report.  Elementary daycare will open two hours late and remain open for the day.  High school students and staff will be on a two hour late schedule.  There will be no Clark Skills Center transportation at the high school.  If the late opening is on a high school early release day, there will be no school for students, but staff will report. 

One Hour Early Closure: All schools will dismiss one hour early and bus times will begin one hour earlier than regular dismissal times. There will be no afterschool activities and all building use is canceled.  

Two Hour Early Closure: All schools will dismiss two hours early and bus times will begin two hours earlier than regular dismissal times. There will no afterschool activities and all building use is canceled.  

School Closed: All schools will be closed for the day. Students and staff are to remain home. All activities are canceled, all building use is canceled. Emergency personnel will report to work.

Weather conditions vary throughout Multnomah County and especially in the east county. On days when school is closed or delayed, the district receives a tremendous number of phone calls from parents and community members questioning the decision. It is important to keep in mind that the safety of all students is important and schools may be closed or delayed because of severe weather conditions.  Transportation, maintenance and administrative staff assess the conditions and consult with neighboring district staff and with weather reports when making the closure determination.

Sometimes school remains open on days when there is snow on the ground or there is some ice or questionable conditions. Parents who have serious concerns about the safety of their students may keep their children home -- without academic penalty -- until they feel it is safe for them to travel.