Emergency school closings may be necessitated by inclement weather, power outages, loss of water, or other hazardous conditions. Decisions regarding emergency closings will be made by 6:00 a.m. of the day in question.
You may receive information on Emergency School Closings multiple ways:
District web page
Information on school closings will be on an emergency alert on the first page of the District's web page and posted as soon as possible after a decision has been made to close the schools.
Computerized phone call
All District 99 parents and staff will receive a computerized phone call notifying them of a school closing. The system will leave messages on answering machines, voice mail or with someone answering the phone. Multiple attempts will be made to contact District 99 families about school closings and other critical information.
E-News
Subscribers to the District or Schools E-News will receive an e-mail about school closings soon after a decision has been made to close the schools.
Radio & TV stations
Many area radio and TV stations carry information on school closings. The school district informs the Chicagoland Computerized Emergency Closing Center, which notifies the following radio and TV stations. The frequency with which closings are read is at the discretion of the local stations.
AM Radio
WGN 720; WMAQ 670; WBBM 780
TV Stations
CBS TV Channel 2; WGN TV Channel 9; FOX Channel 32; CLTV News
Other sources of information
School Switchboards
North High 630-795-8400
South High 630-795-8500
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Decide When To Close Schools?
The decision to close is based on many factors.
Building conditions: Do the buildings have power, light and heat?
Site conditions: Is the parking lot plowed? Can buses get in and turn around, can parents drop off students and are the exit doors free of snow?
Bus operations: Can the bus drivers get to the bus company? Do the buses start and do the drivers feel comfortable driving?
Road conditions: Are the roads continually plowed and is traffic moving?
Air temperature: How cold is it? Are the temperature and wind chill bearable?
If the answer is yes to all of these questions, most likely the decision will be to keep schools open.
Who Makes The Decision And Where Do You Get Your Information?
The superintendent of schools makes the decision to close the schools. He consults with some or all of the following: area superintendents, associated feeder school superintendents, the bus company and the police departments.
When Do You Make The Decision To Close A School?
The decision to close the schools is usually made very early in the morning, before 6 a.m., unless we learn of severe weather conditions headed this way. That way teachers and students getting an early start to school can be informed.
It's not an easy decision and one that has an impact not only on teachers and students, but families and working parents. If schools are closed, another day of attendance is added in June and that can affect the graduation schedule, senior exams and vacations.