To:              Parents / Guardians     
From:         Stan Sawyer, Superintendent of Schools
Date:          September 2007
Re:             Storm Cancellations / Early Dismissals

The Westbrook School Committee has a policy of limiting early dismissal due to inclement weather.  Our reasoning – it allows little or no time for families to provide sitters for children returning home unexpectedly.  Generally speaking then, we will make every attempt not to dismiss schools for severe weather.  Please note, however, there may be exceptions that cannot be foreseen.  We hope that if you have young children you will tell them what they are to do in an emergency and communicate this to the school.

Morning school cancellations due to bad weather is another matter.  The Superintendent of Schools has a major responsibility to act prudently in the matter of student safety.  Therefore, if the Superintendent deems the travel to be hazardous or if a storm report indicates a late arriving storm that could make afternoon travel a major problem, then the Superintendent will cancel school.

The process for cancellation is as follows:
1.  At 4:00 a.m., the Superintendent receives a call from the weather forecaster outlining the possibilities of the day.
2.  He then calls the Transportation Director to alert her of impending conditions
3.  Next he talks to the Superintendents from Portland, Scarborough, Windham and the Westbrook Police & Public Works Department.
4.  From these conversations, a decision is made.  Not all may agree.  Portland, South Portland and Cape Elizabeth often do not have snow in the amounts we do.
5.  The decision to go or not to go is made before 6:00 a.m. – delays in the decision may occur when there are differing   opinions.
6.  If the decision is to cancel, radio stations and TV storm centers are notified as soon as possible by the Superintendent or his designee.

The Superintendent fully realizes the difficulties people face in providing care, however, STUDENT SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT!!

Not everyone agrees with each cancelled day.  However, the decision is made with much consultation.  As parents you have the ultimate decision to send or not send your youngsters to school on days you disagree with the decision.  If we hold school and you are concerned with your youngster traveling, by all means keep him / her home.

Stations for cancellations are WPOR, WGAN, WMGX, KISS, WYNZ, WCHS, WBLM, WTHT, WMSJ, WLAM, Channels 6, 8, and 13.  We also post the cancellation immediately on the main page our web site (www.westbrookschools.org).

I sincerely hope this clarifies any questions you may have regarding the process for canceling school due to inclement / hazardous weather.