Worthington board adopts clearer weather protocols, sets cold threshold and e-learning process
Summary
Joel, a district staff member, presented a decision matrix for weather-related school changes that prioritizes safety, expert consultation and predictability; the district set a cold-weather threshold at minus 35'F and clarified notification timing and e-learning procedures.
Joel, a district staff member presenting the weather and climate protocols, told the board the district adopted a decision-making model that centers safety, consultation with experts and predictable communication.
"We have five guiding principles that will go into our decisions," Joel said, describing partnerships with the National Weather Service, transportation staff and local government. He said the district's initial threshold for cold-weather action will be minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit (wind chill or actual temperature).
Joel described timing and notification goals: staff should receive initial information just before 05:15 a.m. and public notifications will be distributed at about 05:15 a.m.; the district aims to make night-before decisions by about 9:00 p.m. when possible. He also noted a statutory timing constraint: a learn-from-home change must be called within two hours of the original start time, which narrows morning decision time to about 6 a.m.
The district explained how instruction would proceed on e-learning days: elementary students would use learning packets (already sent home at some schools) while secondary students would use Schoology to access classwork and connect with support staff online. Joel also advised families that if a parent or guardian believes travel is unsafe for their household, the district will honor an absence if the family calls the school.
Joel said the district will publish a concise communication summary for families and is working with communications to post multilingual phone messages (prerecorded) and other alerts. Board members asked about the number of e-learning days available (the district confirmed five) and about phone-call delivery delays; Joel said the district is exploring other phone systems but currently must use a large system with a calling window that can extend beyond 05:15.
No vote was required; the presentation was informational but establishes the district's operational thresholds and procedures for winter closures and same-day e-learning transitions.
