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WEATHER RELATED CONCERNS
 

EMERGENCY CLOSING PROCEDURES

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NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:

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  1. In the event of inclement weather you should assume that school will open as usual but begin monitoring news outlets and our website.

  2. Advance Notice: Only when evidence of severe weather predictions are clear, such as ice or snow, will we make announcements of school closings and delays in advance.

  3. Same Day Notice: Decisions regarding cancellation or delayed start will be made between 5:30 and 6:00 A.M.

  4. In the event that the Principal determines that closing school is the appropriate course of action, we will immediately begin alerting parents and the public using the following methods:  

  • Media Outlets - TV, Radio, Newspaper, MCAA Website

  • Robocall

  • Email

 

The following media outlets will be notified first. Keep in mind that due to the large number of schools in our area there may be a delay before our information is posted or announced:

TELEVISION

  • WBRC TV FOX 6

  • WBMA TV ABC 33/40

  • WVTM TV NBC 13

  • WIAT TV CBS 42

  • WTTO TV 21

  • WABM TV 68

RADIO STATIONS

  • WERC 960AM

  • WJOX 690AM

  • WMJJ 96.5FM

  • WZZK 104.7FM

  • WYSF 94.5FM

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In the event of a delayed start, cancellation, or early dismissal we will also issue phone notifications to the families of enrolled students via Robocall. Due to high call volumes in our area during such events these calls may take a longer or shorter time to process. Therefore, families should not rely solely on receiving a call, but should also monitor the media and check our website for information. 

 

We will make every effort to post closing/delay/early dismissal information on the homepage of our website as soon as possible. Please do no call the school, Transportation Department, or Central Office.  The school has limited phone lines. If school is in session and weather deteriorates it is important that we be able to keep them open for emergencies. If it is still very early in the morning, it is unlikely that there will be a staff member manning the telephones. 

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DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND PROCEDURES:

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The decision to close or delay school opening is a very important one and is made only after thorough consideration. The following information is provided to help parents understand how the Magic City Acceptance Academy determines whether or not to hold school on bad weather days. Please keep in mind that we have students traveling from all over Jefferson and surrounding counties. We realize that there is no perfect decision for everyone. We hope that this explanation helps you understand our process. 

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1. MCAA's procedure for closing schools is as follows:

  • We closely monitor weather reports from NOAA as well as major television and radio stations

  • We are in contact with local police and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department as needed

  • We are in contact with neighboring school districts

  • We are in contact with the Jefferson County EMA.

  • This input is provided to the principal and their leadership team to make a decision to close or not and then begin to inform employees, students, parents and the various media outlets. 

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2. The Principal and staff members advising considers several factors:

  • Road safety of students and staff and the ability of school buses to travel safely

  • Whether utility services are affected such as electric power and gas. 

  • Some young students may not have adult supervision during the day if school is closed. 

  • Other students may not have a warm place to stay during the day. 

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3. If/When the Principal makes the decision to close school, all notification procedures are put in place between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m.

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4. If schools must be closed, the school day must be made up later in the year on one of the dates designated as an "inclement weather" day unless the Governor's Office has declared a state of emergency. 

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DELAYED OPENINGS:

 

While delayed openings are rare, the above procedures will be followed but with a designation of being a "Delayed opening" with the time delay noted. 

 

CONSIDERATIONS FOR DELAYING SCHOOL OPENINGS:

 

  1. Visibility during pre-dawn hours. The delay helps avoid the limited visibility during pre-dawn hours which is when buses normally start their routes. This limited visibility can impair a bus driver's ability to see ice patches. 

  2. Identifying and locating icy road conditions. The delay allows county crews to locate and apply sand to icy patches.

  3. Assessing traffic conditions. The delay can mean that traffic conditions are more relaxed and allow for safer travel. 

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EARLY/DELAYED DISMISSALS:

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Early/Delayed dismissals can occur because of impending and fast approaching weather such as ice, snow, severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings or by some type of facility failure such as a water main break or power failure. Utilizing all the resources mentioned above such a determination may be made by the Principal. Every effort will be made to notify parents utilizing the media listed above. In addition, schools will use their listserv email system to alert parents. Students will remain under school supervision until safely transported or picked up by a parent or guardian. 

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