Inclement Weather Procedures

Please note, this is a new policy for 2019-2020, and there are some changes to be aware of. Please take the time to review these procedures and email Verhonda Credle with any further questions.

Overbrook School for the Blind recognizes that there may be situations due to weather or other circumstances such as lack of heat, lighting, or water that may create the need to close the school, delay the start time or have an early dismissal. The administration knows that any change to the school schedule has a great impact on the student, their families, and staff. Our utmost responsibility is the safety of our students and staff, and this is our key focus when making decisions to close the school.

We will continue to follow weather-related closings made by the Philadelphia School District but will also make independent decisions in addition to this when we determine that there is a need to do so.

Our decision will be based on careful analysis of the most current information that includes, but is not limited to:

The weather forecast for the day, including timing and severity; will it happen before or during the day
Current and predicted road conditions
Building conditions
Parking and sidewalk conditions
Student transportation needs, across multiple counties and school districts
SEPTA’s ability to maintain bus and train operations
Information from the surrounding counties.
We will make every attempt to make a school closure or delay the decision as early as possible; ideally the evening before the predicted snow. If it’s a tough call, we do everything we can to make the decision by 5 am the morning of the event but, the weather is unpredictable –sometimes we need to monitor weather conditions longer, to make the best possible decision and we encourage our parents to RECHECK up until 5:35 am.
We will inform families and staff by posting this on our website obs.org and all social media as well as sending out an announcement through School Messenger. It is important for parents and staff to ensure that we have the most up-to-date contact information so that you can receive these alerts. Please feel free to email Trish Bonner, Administrative Assistant to the Director, if you are unsure we have the correct contact information in our emergency call system.

Please remember, that although we make our decision based on the above information with student and staff safety in mind, as a parent, you can decide if you will send your child to school. Due to inclement weather, we cannot ensure when transportation will arrive or the length of time your child may be on the road. Please consider this when deciding for your child.

INCLEMENT WEATHER and EARLY DISMISSAL

Classes Not in Session

Overbrook will be closed when the Philadelphia School District (PSD) is either CLOSED or OPEN WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. This will be announced on many radio and TV stations throughout the area, as well as on the PSD website https://www.philasd.org and the Overbrook School for the Blind website as well.

In addition to Philadelphia School Closings, Overbrook School for the Blind may make independent decisions to close or delay school.

Staff and families will be notified of School Closings or delays via our School Messenger System. Please ensure your telephone and/or cellphone number is up to date. A notice will also be posted on our website (www.obs.org), social media, and KYW.

Classes Not in Session means that the Instructional, Early Intervention Outreach, and Itinerant staff do not need to report to work. If Whitehall/Residential students have not gone home, they will receive a day program, presented by Instructional Staff who are requested to come to work by a call from the Human Resources Office. Overbrook also follows Philadelphia School District Administrative Office openings and closings. If Administrative Offices are open, Non-Instructional staff are expected to come to work.

Classes in Session

Most of the time, a snowfall does not result in the closing of the Philadelphia School system and in this case, Overbrook will be OPEN as well unless OSB Administration deems otherwise. ALL STAFF MEMBERS are expected to come to work to provide a full day of education or service. For Instructional staff, illness will be the only reason accepted for an excused absence when school is OPEN.

Early Dismissal Procedures

*An announcement will be made upon receiving notice of Early Dismissal from the Philadelphia School District or as determined by OSB Inclement Weather Team. The announcement will state that the Early Dismissal Procedure will be followed today*

As Transportation is notified about early pickups, the Transportation Liaison will email the following: Program Coordinators, Program Secretaries, Superintendent and Executive Director’s Offices and the Director of School Safety and Security.

All Early Childhood and Elementary classes will be served lunch at 11:00. All Middle School, High School and School to Work classes will be served lunch at 11:15

After lunch, all students (Day and Residential) and staff are to return to their classroom or Program Coordinator approved area and wait for the students’ bus to be announced.

Students should be engaged in their routine activities.

A School Messenger announcement will be sent to parents and guardians.

Please listen to KYW News or KYW News Radio Station 1060 AM to listen for school closings for Overbrook School for the Blind and/or All Philadelphia Public Schools.

During inclement weather, it is the families’ responsibility to monitor the above-noted broadcast media to learn of early dismissal announcements.