by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (March 2, 2019) – In an effort to “minimize loss of instruction” while maintaining the safety of students and staff during inclement weather, Superintendent Teresa Lance and the District 215 School Board have created a delayed start schedule. This is an option that can be implemented instead of taking a whole snow day, for example. Delaying the start of school by two hours can give snow plows a chance to clear roads—and families a chance to clear their own driveways and make adjustments to their work and childcare schedules—without sacrificing an entire school day.
In a February 20 letter to District 215 constituents, Superintendent Lance explained what a delayed start schedule would look like:
- Period 0: Cancelled
- Breakfast: 9:45–10:20am
- Period 1: 10:25–11:00am
- Period 2: 11:05–11:45am
- Period 3: 11:50am–12:30pm
- Period 4: 12:35–1:15pm
- Period 5: 1:20–2:00pm
- Period 6: 2:05–2:45pm
- Period 7: 2:50–3:25pm
Other logistics are also impacted by a delayed start:
- Students who ride buses would report to their bus stops two hours later than normal.
- Students whose schedules provide for travel to or from the Center for Academics and Technology will remain at their home campuses the entire day, reporting to their respective libraries for CTE classes.
- Freshman Academy students and Center for Alternative Learning students will also begin two hours later than normal.
Lance assures families that if a delayed start schedule or full closure is required, she will communicate as soon as possible, and never later than 5:00am on the day of. Notifications will be sent out via phone, social media, the district website, and emergencyclosings.com.
“We do not take school closure decisions lightly,” said Lance in her letter to constituents, “because we understand they create inconveniences for many families and require making up days at the end of the year.” Lance is hoping the delayed start option will mitigate the impact of inclement weather on the District 215 community.
