School Closures

School Closures 

Click here to sign up for Flash Alerts.

Clover Park School District, through the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD), is using FlashAlert Newswire to communicate school closure information due to bad weather, hazardous road conditions or other emergencies to local media sources. Parents, students, staff and community members can register up to three email and/or cell phone text addresses in a single account and receive information at the same time as the news media. A free iPhone/Android app, FlashAlert Messenger, is also available and allows families and the public to receive emergency messages - much faster and more reliable than text messages. As a subscriber you can also view all local emergency items and news releases on FlashAlertNewsire.net.

Local television and radio stations also announce the changes according to information they receive from school districts. Listen for news about Clover Park School District. If you do not hear Clover Park School District, assume that all of our schools are open and operating on a regular schedule.

For more information on school emergencies and closures, call Community Relations at 253-583-5040. For information about buses and transportation, call 253-583-5494.

Inclement Weather Procedure

Transportation

From time to time throughout the school year, weather may force a change in the normal operating routine of the district. The district has in place a process to make decisions and the ability to communicate information to parents, students and staff in various matters about changes to the normal daily routine.

As routine is very important to our students, parents and community, the district will make every effort to adhere to the established school calendar and bell schedules; however the safety of students and employees is the highest priority. The following information will clarify how recommendations and decisions are made regarding the delay or possible closure of school, how information is disseminated to the families and as a community what you can expect.

As inclement weather and traffic will affect the bus schedule, we ask that families be patient and understanding. We will do everything in our control to provide accurate information regarding pick up times for your students. Please remember, the safety of your children is our primary concern.

See a list of our altered bus routes on limited transportation days

Recommendation and Decisions

At approximately 2:30 a.m., designated transportation and operational personnel begin ongoing communication with the public works departments for the City of Lakewood and Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM); drive roads throughout the district to determine the ability to safely transport students; determine the status of arterials (major and minor) making note of specific challenging areas; and reviews existing and anticipated weather patterns through NW Weathernet, local air traffic controllers and various news stations and surrounding school districts. Between 4:00 - 4:30 a.m., district personnel contact the superintendent and relays the gathered information. The superintendent then determines the feasibility of having school, delaying or closing school within Clover Park School District.
When at all possible, decisions regarding school delays or closures are made by 5:00 a.m. Clover Park School District uses a minimum of three separate communication processes to notify our families of changes regarding the normal routine. Each family's primary residence phone line is contacted with a standardized message of the anticipated change, the use of local area radio and television media stations is used to report the changes and the district's web page will report any changes.

What changes can parents expect?

The following emergency condition messages will be mostly used by Clover Park School District:

  • Two Hours Late. This means buses will begin their first route two hours late but at regularly scheduled stops UNLESS the message includes "Snow Routes in Effect". There will be NO half-day kindergarten, preschool, ECEAP, Head Start, late start, early release or transition programs and no out-of-district transportation will be provided.
  • Two Hours Late - Snow Routes in Effect. This means buses will begin their first route two hours late. Limited bus service will be available in specified neighborhood areas that require alternate service locations. All parents should have received information as to where their child's designated snow bus stop is located. (Snow route information by neighborhood is posted on the district website under bus routes).
  • Schools Closed. This means all Clover Park schools are closed for all regular and/or special education students. No transportation will be provided to other schools outside of our district even though they may be open and operating on schedule. All scheduled activities are also canceled. District administrative offices will be open and administrators are expected to report to work as soon as safely possible.

How should you prepare for changes to the school day?

All families should have an emergency inclement weather plan in place that can be put into action on short notice. Ensure that your children have an alternate place to stay if you must be at work on a day when school has been delayed or canceled. Ensure a neighbor, family member or center is able to care for or receive students. Instruct students to report directly home or to their established care center immediately on arrival in the evening.

Public media stations that report school delays and closures:

Television Radio
AM Band FM Band
KOMO 4 KCIS 630 KPLU 88.5
KING 5 KIRO 710 KVTI 90.9
KIRO 7 KIXI 880 KUBE 93.3
KCPQ 13 KOMO1000 KMPS 94.1
KLAY 1180 KIRO 97.3
KGY 1240 KCMS 105.3
KQMV 92.5

Who to Contact

Name Phone
Transportation 253-583-5494