Waunakee Community School District takes all decisions to delay, close, or dismiss school due to inclement weather conditions very seriously. As with most decisions that affect thousands of individuals, it impacts them differently.

We’d like to provide you with a short overview of the process for determining school closures, and what is considered when making these decisions. We watch the weather very closely in the winter months. On nights when the weather is forecasted to cause any issues that might impact our students arriving safely at school, we are assessing the situation at 4:45 a.m. and try to decide by 6:00 a.m. that morning. Once a decision is made about a closure or a delayed start, this information is added to our website and posted to local television and radio stations.

We will also share information via email and text with parents once a decision is made to close/delay school. For snow-related weather, Lamers Bus Company has individuals checking the roads in different parts of our school district. The timing of the snow and/or ice, how much snow/ice is predicted, how it impacts getting students to and from school, and consultation with Lamer’s Bus Company are all key factors when deciding for our school district.

For cold weather-related closures, the main indicator is the wind chill factor. If the wind chill factor generates a Wind Chill Warning (-35 sustained wind chill), as determined by the National Weather Service, we will close for the day or will consider a delayed start if the warning is lifted in the mid-morning hours. We will hold school during a Wind-Chill Advisory. Finally, if there is ever a time that we hold school and you do not feel that it is in the best interest of your child to attend based on your assessment of the weather, please know that we respect your decision as a parent and will excuse those absences. Please communicate with the school office if you make this decision for your child.