2 Dec 2009
Radio and Television Stations Will be Informed of the Decision to Open or Close
DALLAS—In the event of inclement weather, the Dallas Independent School District procedures call for informing the public of school closings no later than 6 a.m. of the day in question.
Guidelines for informing the public of inclement weather state that if a decision is made to open or close schools, it will be announced through radio and television and the district's phone messenger system and Web site at www.dallasisd.org. The district will call radio and television stations and inform them whether schools are open or closed on inclement weather days. Once schools are open for the day, classes are held for the entire school day.
The procedures for making the decision to close schools begin early in the morning when school personnel drive streets in different parts of the city to check road conditions. The district will not hold school if buses are unable to operate safely; if electric service at schools is disrupted; or if natural gas to schools is curtailed.
Administrators confer with the weather bureau, police department, and gas and utility companies about forecasts, road conditions and available energy for heating the buildings. The administrators report the findings to the superintendent of schools who makes the final decision to open or close schools.
"Dallas ISD students are showing improvement on college readiness indicators… and (the district) has shown improvement on Broad Prize indicators. Among the comparison Texas urban districts, only Houston ISD slightly outperforms Dallas ISD."