Snow Day Policies in Douglas County
<< Link to the District's School Closure Status can be found in our left navigation pane. You can also click HERE to check whether schools are on normal schedule, delayed schedule or closed.
With the inclement weather that is possible in Douglas County, we wanted to share some information about snow days, delays, etc. Eagle Ridge follows these policies as we help families navigate this crazy Colorado weather! This information below is from our DCSD website:
Douglas County School District takes the safety of our students, staff, parents and community members extremely seriously. Information about school closures and delays will be updated on a red banner at the top of the DCSD website.
When a snowstorm is approaching
By far, the biggest reason for school closures in Colorado are snowstorms. In Douglas County, we have a "snow team" that is dedicated to monitoring incoming storms, accessing whether a closure or delay is warranted and then communicating that information to our stakeholders and the public.
How the decision is made
Beginning early in the morning we have several staff members, including experienced bus drivers and grounds people relay the conditions they see across the county and at our schools. If conditions are extremely treacherous or the forecast indicates that they may become too dangerous the team makes a recommendation for a closure or delay to the Superintendent, who makes the final decision.
In addition to safety, we also have a responsibility to balance the impact that our decisions have on families and our work -- educating students.
Douglas County School District may close or delay the entire District as a group or by regional area, depending on the conditions.
If school remains open
During Colorado winters, snow and ice are to be expected. We encourage everyone within the District to drive extremely cautiously.
Those that do not feel comfortable driving in these conditions or are inexperienced should consider alternate transportation options. As always, we respect a parent's decision to keep their students home, if necessary.
If there is a 90-minute delay
When DCSD schools are placed onto a 90-minute delay all schools start 90 minutes after their normal start times. Bus routes are also delayed by 90 minutes, so students should plan to be picked up one and a half hours later than normal. Before and After School (BASE) programs also begin 90 minues later than normal. During a delay, morning preschool and kindergarten programs are canceled. Full-day preschool and kindergarten programs operate on a 90-minute delay. Decisions about before school activities are generally made on a school-by-school basis.
Where are closures and delays posted?
In the event of a closure or delay, the information will be immediately posted on the top of the District's website. We will also post updates on the District's Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as the DCSD mobile app. Finally, we notify local media outlets.