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Closing and Delays

Closing & Delay Decisions
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When making the decision to close, delay, or release school due to weather, the safety of students and staff is our top priority. Before deciding to modify the school day due to weather conditions, the Assistant Superintendent consults with a variety of experts both inside and outside of the district. We are committed to keeping students, families, and staff safe and informed of weather-related school closings, delays, and cancellations.

The decisions made on behalf of our growing district may not always fit with individual circumstances. Therefore, Ankeny Schools supports parents/guardians in making the best decision for their families. Parents/guardians may choose to keep their children at home if they are concerned about their child’s safety due to weather conditions. In this event, they must notify the school, and the absence will be recorded as excused.

Please note that we continually monitor the forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS) to inform our decision-making. 

Should weather or an emergency situation result in the closing or delay of school, the district uses several methods to notify parents.

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Types of Weather Events

Cold Days
Closing due to temperature or wind chill. In general, school may be canceled if the forecast for 10:00 a.m. the following morning shows a windchill warning of 30 minutes or less (see chart here). As a general practice, notifications regarding cancellation will be made by 9:00 p.m. the night before a cancellation, and all activities will be canceled unless otherwise noted.

Snow Days
Closing due to snow or hazardous driving conditions. School will be canceled if heavy snow and/or icy conditions make it exceedingly hazardous or impossible for school buses to travel their routes and/or for employees and students to report to school safely. Decisions and notifications will be made by 6:00 a.m. on the morning of a cancellation. As a general practice, all activities are canceled unless otherwise noted.

Types of Closures

Late Start

Delaying the start of school due to weather conditions that are expected to improve throughout the school day. Late start times may vary depending on the weather conditions.

Cancellations include (but are not limited to):

  • Breakfast will not be served at school.
  • Morning preschool will be canceled
  • Before and after-school programs will be closed

Early Dismissal

Releasing school early due to weather conditions that are expected to worsen throughout the school day. When an early dismissal is deemed necessary:

  • A decision is determined by 11:00 a.m. Early dismissal times may vary depending on the weather conditions
  • Children normally transported on buses will be returned by bus according to the early dismissal schedule unless other arrangements have been previously made and communicated to the child’s school
  • High school activity and athletic practice and event cancellations are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee
  • Before and after-school programs will be closed
  • As a general practice, all after-school and evening activities are canceled unless otherwise noted.

Cancellations include (but are not limited to):

  • Afternoon preschool
  • Before and after-school programs will be closed
  • High school activity and athletic practice and event cancellations are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee
  • Meetings and activities in a school building or District facility hosted by an outside organization

Cancellation

A school day is canceled when conditions make transportation exceedingly hazardous.

Cancellations include (but are not limited to):

  • All schools and preschools Before and after school program
  • High school activity and athletic events and practice cancellations are determined at the building level and communicated by the building administrator/designee
  • Meetings and activities in a school building or district facility hosted by an outside organization