HARRISBURG – A proposal from Cumberland County Rep. Sheryl Delozier would establish Coordinated School Closure Boards for Inclement Weather in school districts. It addresses a coordination gap between public school districts and the nonpublic schools they serve with transportation, ensuring that closure and delay decisions are made collaboratively. Under current law, when a school district provides transportation for its own students, it’s required to transport non-public school students, too. But there’s no requirement that the two sides actually talk to each other when a storm rolls in. So, some end up with situations where a non-public school stays open, the district cancels transportation, and families are left scrambling at 6 a.m. with nowhere to turn. Her bill creates a group made up of the district superintendent, the transportation director, a member of the school district’s buildings and grounds department, and administrators from the non-public schools in the district. When bad weather hits, the group collaboratively makes the call on transportation and, as it is now, the district’s decision is final, and applies to both public and non-public schools. Non-public schools still get to decide whether to hold classes without transportation services. The board also is required to meet before the school year starts to review and update emergency contacts, protocols, and set clear criteria for when a delay or closure is warranted. And when a weather decision is made, families, employees, and students are notified by 5:30 a.m.
REP. SHERYL DELOZIER