Please review these important reminders and answers to frequently asked questions about how we keep your NPPS student/s safe during inclement weather conditions. Winter weather in the Midwest can be unpredictable, and conditions can go from mild to harsh within a few short hours. It is important that we prepare in advance so that we are ready when winter weather strikes.

We recommend that all students wear a hat, scarf, mittens, water-resistant coat and boots, and layers of loose-fitting clothing. If you need assistance providing your child with winter gear, please contact your child’s building principal, who can connect you with resources.

Whenever possible, the decision to close school is made by 5:30 a.m. or earlier. If severe winter weather is in the forecast, families should have contingency plans to accommodate their student/s in the event school is canceled.

The decision to close schools is based on various factors. Still, ultimately the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. District Administrators work closely with the Director of Transportation and the Director of Operations and Facilities to evaluate internally that we have electricity and heat in our buildings and to determine if parking lot conditions are safe. We also check to see if our buses are operational and can travel safely on local roads. We rely on information from area news and the National Weather Service about road conditions and travel impacts. In addition, we closely monitor current and future weather predictions, including temperature and snow and ice accumulations. It’s important to consider temperature and wind chill in the decision for those students who walk to and from school. The District uses the Wind Chill Chart from the National Weather Service as a tool in determining when conditions might be too dangerous for students and staff to arrive at school safely.

There is no specific formula, but a decision to close school due to weather is never taken lightly. We prefer not making the decision based on weather predictions, but sometimes this is unavoidable. We also make our decision in cooperation with other area school districts and with the advice of the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

North Platte Public Schools is committed to communicating school closings in a timely manner and in the best interests of students and staff. Weather is unpredictable, and conditions may vary, so Parents/Guardians are urged to use their best judgment in determining if their student/s should attend school.

There are several ways to determine if school is delayed or closed on what seems like a bad weather day.

• Visit the District Website https://www.nppsd.org/, which is updated once a decision is made.

• Emails, phone calls, text messages, and push notifications will be shared

• Push notifications will be shared on our free mobile application – North Platte School District

• Follow us on Twitter: @nppsd

• Follow us on Facebook: @nppsd

• Follow us on Instagram: @nppsd

• Tune in to local radio and news stations:

To ensure your data is correct and you are receiving the most up-to-date data, visit your Parent Portal or Student Portal at https://northplattene.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/northplatte.jsp

The National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/

KNOP News: https://www.knopnews2.com/

Nebraska Department of Transportation: https://dot.nebraska.gov/

Nebraska 511: https://www.511.nebraska.gov/

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