Puyallup School District
Inclement Weather
Overview
Winter weather may impact school operations resulting in delays, early releases, and possible closure. Here is what you need to know and possible changes that may occur.
How Does the District Determine If the Roads are Safe?
When winter weather is in the forecast, at approximately 3:30 a.m., designated transportation staff drive roads throughout the district to determine the ability to safely transport students.
Our district has varying terrain that needs to be taken into consideration. Staff assess major and minor roads with anticipated weather patterns.
Between 4 and 4:45 a.m., the Assistant Superintendent of Operations and School Support and the Superintendent’s Office determines the feasibility of safely transporting students to and from school based on information received from the district's snow patrol.
When at all possible, decisions regarding school delays or closures are made by 5 a.m.
How We Communicate
The district communicates impacts to school schedules via the following:
Right At School
Right At School will align operations with district decisions on closures, delays, or early dismissals. This alignment will eliminate confusion for families and ensure the safety of staff and students in the event of inclement weather.
Learn more about Right At School's inclement weather procedures.
Limited Transportation Routes
Weather may impact school operations resulting in delays, early releases, and possible closures.
Occasionally, weather conditions also impact bus transportation resulting in limited bus transportation districtwide due to inclement weather. In these instances, a school open with limited transportation protocol will be implemented.
On these days, the following bus stops will not be serviced. Families are encouraged to know if their child’s bus stop is on this list and prepare for inclement weather days in which bus transportation is limited.
Limited bus transportation, otherwise known as snow routes, allows us to keep schools open while servicing those areas throughout the district that are safe for buses when bad weather occurs.
On these days, schools will be open and buses will stop at all regular stops with the exception of the following areas (click on the neighborhood to view routes):
Family Plan
Each family should have a plan covering what to do when children arrive home early due to an emergency or weather-related situation.
Please develop a plan and practice it with your child. If you will not be home, instruct your child as to where they should go in the event of an early dismissal due to emergency conditions.