Newsroom / School closure/delay information
Permanent/Recurring Items
Spokane Public Schools will be open daily as scheduled, regardless of weather, unless a closure or late start announcement is made. Closure information will be:
broadcast by the local media beginning at approximately 6 a.m.
posted on spokaneschools.org and the SPS Facebook page
sent to families using the district's notification system.
Learn how SPS decides to close or delay school due to weather in this short video.
It is our goal to keep schools open during snowy weather. However, safety is never compromised when reaching a decision about school closures or late starts. Inclement weather may cause school schedules to be adjusted as follows:
Bus Delays – School operates on the regular schedule with busses running late.
2-Hour Delay – If we experience significant snowfall this winter, we will first consider use of a 2-hour delayed start. Express Childcare will begin at 8 a.m.
School Closure – If the snowfall is significant enough, we will close schools for all students and staff, and the day will be made up on one of the designated emergency make-up days.
While safety is the primary concern, state law requires the district to be in session 180 days. If the district closes schools, days must be made up at a later time during the school year. For many students, school is the safest place to be during inclement weather. In many cases, both parents and/or guardians work outside the home. Schools provide a warm, supervised environment for the children. However, parents are always encouraged to consider the conditions of their neighborhood and the well being of their students in deciding whether to keep their student home. Students are excused from school when parents so request.
We dispatch the plows when the predicted snowfall is expected to be over 2 inches. It takes our 11 snow plow crews from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. to plow the entire district. However, when snow accumulation occurs in the early morning hours, completion of the entire plow route may not be possible. In that case, a 2-hour delay or other schedule adjustment may be used.
The SPS Transportation department will determine if selected routes need to be revised based on weather and subsequent dangerous road conditions. This information will be disseminated by Durham through a parent phone chain for the families involved. Routes most likely to be affected are those outside the city limits.
If school is not closed, Event Services must be contacted if an organization or individual is cancelling an evening event due to inclement weather. All events are cancelled on school closure days. To cancel your event contact Event Services at 509.354.7169.
Each school building principal makes an individual decision whether or not to have outdoor recess. Unless weather conditions are too extreme, students will continue to have outdoor activities during the day. Fresh air and physical activities promote health, help develop strong bodies and improve learning in the classroom. We urge parents to make sure their children are dressed appropriately.
Wear a hat. 40 percent of your body heat can be lost from your head.
Wear mittens. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves to keep your hands warm.
Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs from extreme cold. This is especially important if you have a respiratory condition such as asthma.
On occasion, weather conditions may be too extreme for outdoor activities. These include heavy precipitation (rain or snow), severe winds, extreme temperatures and extremely low wind chill factors. Local weather advisories are provided by the National Weather Service.
School administrators will often refer to the wind chill chart below to help determine if outdoor activities are appropriate for their students and staff.