Closings, Delays, and Communications

It is the responsibility of the Superintendent to decide when it is in the best interest of the Region 1 community to close or have a delayed opening. These decisions are made by 5AM before schools opens; they are dependent upon the information that is available at the time and take into account the safety of all of our students, faculties and staff.

Making decisions about school closures, delays, or early dismissals due to inclement weather is a complex and carefully considered process. Weather forecasting is not an exact science, and our region’s varied microclimates and elevations, spanning approximately 260 square miles, add to the challenge. As such, the Superintendent bases decisions on the most impacted areas of the district using information from multiple sources.

Here is an overview of the process followed to ensure the safety of all students and staff:

    1. In the days leading up to and the night before a potential weather event, the Superintendent reviews radar and news reports plus information from the National Weather Service.
    2. On the morning of a weather event, the process starts at 3:00 AM. She consults with local public works departments, the Connecticut State Police, and the Litchfield County Dispatch to assess any hazardous road and weather conditions.
    3. At about 4:00 AM, there is a conference call with the region’s weather consultant and approximately 20 superintendents from neighboring areas to discuss the forecast and potential weather impacts.
    4. The goal is to make a decision regarding school operations by 5:15 AM, though this timeline may vary depending on the weather situation. Families and staff will be informed as early as possible via School Messenger, local news outlets, and Facebook.
    5. If the weather prediction is highly reliable, a decision will be announced the night before. However, this will only occur if forecasts are nearly certain.

To help us prepare for inclement weather, please ensure that your phone numbers and email are up to date in PowerSchool. Please contact your local school if you need assistance updating your information. In order to assist our children when schedules change, please establish a clear “family” plan for what to do if there is an inclement weather situation.

Region One Schools use the following as potential inclement weather scheduling options: School Cancellation, Early Dismissal, Delayed Opening, and/or No Afterschool or Evening Events.

For our high school students who are new to winter driving conditions, we strongly encourage the use of bus transportation or have an experienced driver provide transportation to school.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding when these difficult decisions are made.