School Closure Information

In the event that inclement weather closes schools across the district, Garfield Re-2 will do its best to communicate the closure in a timely manner.

During severe weather events, evaluation for school closure begins the evening prior and continues at about 4:00 a.m. with conversations between Colorado Department of Transportation, Garfield County Road and Bridge, the Director of Transportation, the Director of Communication, the Superintendent and an evaluation of current and future weather information. Garfield Re-2 School District has a practice of making the determination of a school closure by approximately 5 a.m.

In the event of a school closure, the following resources will be used to let families know about the closure:

First, an autodialer message will be sent to families as soon as possible. The practice is to make the call using the autodialer system by about 5:30 a.m.

Second, radio and television stations will be contacted. Radio stations will be contacted by Garfield Re-2 including KMTS (FM station on 99.1 and 99.5 on the FM dial) and The River (95.5 FM).

Television stations in both Grand Junction and Denver markets will be contacted to place the information in their school closure information. This includes KKCO, KJCT, KREX in Grand Junction and 9News, 7News and CBS 4 in Denver.

Finally, the Garfield Re-2 website (www.garfieldre2.net) and Facebook feed will be updated with this information.

Weather conditions may support an alternative to school closure or a "snow day schedule." This would result in a delayed start to the school day to provide a greater margin of safety on days when snowstorms make early morning travel hazardous. This margin of safety shall be achieved by having all buses delay the start of their runs and by opening schools later than normal. This will allow snow plows additional time to clear roads thus providing greater daytime visibility. The superintendent or designee shall declare a "snow day" or delayed start schedule when the situation warrants. The principals, transportation director and radio stations shall be notified. On this schedule, all buses shall begin their runs two hours late. All classes shall begin two hours late. The end of the day dismissal shall be at normal time.

The same communication methods will be used for a "snow day" or delayed start schedule at the same times. The autodialer message to families will go out by about 5:30 a.m.

Please be sure that your contact information is current by checking in with the secretaries at your child's school so that in the event of school closures, Garfield Re-2 is able to contact you.