INCLEMENT WEATHER and DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

Due to events in a New Jersey school district and a resulting court ruling (Jerkins v. Anderson), school districts must notify parents/guardians of their specific dismissal procedures and must make provisions for unplanned dismissals (snow, electrical outage, etc.) in order to ensure a safe and efficient dismissal process. The following are the specific dismissal procedures for the Stafford Township School District:

The times for regular daily dismissal are school specific and listed below. Please note that this information is also posted on the district website www.staffordschools.org.

Students are dismissed in one of three ways: (1) to a parent/guardian or authorized adult designee as set forth in writing (note: parents/guardians/designees are required to come to the front office for pick up); (2) to an after school or extended day program; or (3) on their scheduled bus route (or released to walk/ride a bike as designated by the Transportation Department or as requested in writing by parent/guardian). Please note that late buses are available for students who are attending an after school program at the McKinley Avenue Elementary School and the Intermediate School on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Dismissal is supervised by staff located outside at the buses as well as the school principal/front office staff/greeters who assist in monitoring student sign out when parents/guardians/designees choose to pick up the child. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing child care after dismissal. Extended day services are available through the Stafford Township Education Foundation.

Oxycocus Elementary School Preschool Handicapped: 3:35 p.m.

Ronald L. Meinders Primary Learning Center Kindergarten: 3:10 p.m.

Ocean Acres Elementary School Grades 1 & 2: 3:05 p.m.

McKinley Avenue Elementary School Grades 3 & 4: 2:15 p.m.

After School Prgm–Late Bus (Tues/Thurs only): 3:05 p.m.

Intermediate School Grades 5 & 6: 2:10 p.m.

After School Prgm–Late Bus (Tues/Thurs only): 3:00 p.m.

The dates and times for planned early dismissal are listed below. Please note, this information is also listed on the district website www.staffordschools.org and reminders will be sent out via the Community Email Notification System (CENS). No additional notification will be provided.

Other than the actual time of dismissal, all dismissal procedures for the regular daily dismissal (as set forth above) are in effect for early dismissals.

Oxycocus Elementary School Preschool Handicapped: 1:30 p.m.

Ronald L. Meinders Primary Learning Center Kindergarten: 12:55 p.m.

Ocean Acres Elementary School Grades 1 & 2: 12:40 p.m.

McKinley Avenue Elementary School Grades 3 & 4: 11:50 a.m.

After School Prgm – Late Bus: None

Intermediate School Grades 5 & 6: 11:45 a.m.

After School Prgm – Late Bus: None

September 7, 2010

September 8, 2010

September 9, 2010

September 10, 2010

October 8, 2010

November 22, 2010

November 23, 2010

November 24, 2010

December 23, 2010

January 31, 2011

April 5, 2011

June 15, 2011 3

In certain situations it may be necessary to close schools on short notice for situations such as snow, power outages, etc. In such situations, notification will be provided through the rapid call-out system to you and your designated emergency contacts. In addition, notification will be sent via CENS and will be posted on the district’s website www.staffordschools.org. For this reason, it is critical that the district have the most up-to-date information for you as well as any of your designated emergency contacts. Any changes in information must be provided in writing to each school in which you have a child enrolled.

In addition to ensuring that your information is up-to-date so that you receive notification, you must also make plans in advance for child care in the event of an unplanned early dismissal. Plans must be made in advance as it is impossible for the district to coordinate last minute arrangements while in the middle of an unplanned dismissal. Please remember that if your child care arrangements require another individual (besides yourself) to receive notification of unplanned dismissals, you must add that person as an emergency contact. Otherwise the district will not have any knowledge that you want that individual contacted via the rapid call-out system.

The district understands that not everyone is able to locate child care. Thus, as an alternative, during an unplanned dismissal, you may elect to have your child attend the extended day program. If you choose this option your child will remain at the extended day program (location to be determined by the district as appropriate given the reason for the unplanned dismissal) until you are able to pick them up. Please note that this program has a $25 flat fee but will provide care for your child from the time of dismissal during an emergency event, until 6 p.m. or until you or your designee are able to pick your child up.

Please download this form to designate your option by clicking HERE. Completion of this form is essential to maintaining safe and efficient dismissal procedures. This is a one time designation effective for the entire 2010-2011 school year. If you wish to modify your selection, you must complete this form again. As soon as possible upon completion, please return this form to the building principal of your child’s school (either by mail or with your child on the first day of school). If you have more than one child, please note that you must complete a separate form for each child.

Please note that supervision during an unplanned dismissal may vary depending on the nature of the dismissal. However, please be assured that teachers and staff members will supervise outside at the buses and the school principal/front office staff/greeters will supervise and direct students to the buses or to the extended day program as appropriate based upon your designation. The Superintendent of schools will be involved in overall coordination of activities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF DISMISSAL PROCEDURES & CHILD CARE DESIGNATION IN THE EVENT OF AN UNPLANNED DISMISSAL (2010-2011)

STUDENT’S NAME: __________________________________

SCHOOL: __________________________________

HOMEROOM TEACHER: __________________________________

CHILD CARE DESIGNATION – UNPLANNED DISMISSAL ONLY: (please check one)

_________ I have made child care arrangements for my child. I understand that if I choose this option, my child will be sent home on his/her assigned bus route (or will be released to a designee or to walk/ride a bike if that is the child’s specifically designated regular daily dismissal procedure set forth in writing – please note, however, that location for pick up may change depending upon the nature of the emergency and information will be provided via emergency contacts).

_________ I would like my child to attend the extended day program in the event of an unplanned dismissal. I understand that I will be responsible for the cost of my child’s attendance. I further understand that my child will be held in this program until I or a designee comes to pick my child up.

By signing this form, I acknowledge that I have received and reviewed the district dismissal procedures. Further, I understand that the child care arrangement designation, as indicated, is applicable to the entire 2010-2011 school year and only for unplanned dismissals (I recognize that this is not considered a sign up for the extended day program for regular daily or planned early dismissals). If I wish to modify these arrangements, I will complete a new form.

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME: ___________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE: ________________________________________

DATE: _____________

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS may be necessary due to inclement weather.  Please plan where your child will go if there is an Emergency School Closing.  

NOTE:  Please make all necessary arrangements for children in advance for any possible delayed opening, early dismissal or emergency school closing.

School cancellations and announcements will be made on the following radio and TV stations: 

                                99.7 FM                                  TV – News 12

Also, updated information will be immediately posted on the home page of the district’s website (www.staffordschools.org) or you may call the district at 978-5700. 

In addition, you may subscribe to “CENS”, our Community Email Notification System.  To subscribe to receive any or all community notices, you need to go to our website at www.staffordschools.org, click on “Enroll in the Community Notification System” link and enroll.  When you enroll, you will automatically receive all school related notices such as emergency closings, delayed openings, early dismissal, event reminders, etc, as well as all PTA notices.  In addition, various non- profit organizations, such as recreational sport groups, scouting groups, religious groups, etc. will also be listed.  You will be asked to select which groups you want notices from or if you want to receive all community notices.  It is important to understand that any non-profit group will have the ability to post notices, but ultimately you will decide which notices you will receive.