Weather-Related School Closures & Delays
HFCS follows the Coeur d’Alene school district for for weather-related school closures and 2-hour delayed start. Information is posted by 5:30 am. You can download the CDA schools app, call their weather hotline at 208-667-0784, check their website, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. As soon as we know that there is a school closure, we will share it with you on our website, on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, and via our AP Notify texting service. In case of an emergency early closure, the HFCS office will notify parents through AP Notify. We will not permit students to leave the school until arrangements are made to pick them up.
How are these decisions made?
The safety of students and employees is the top priority in the decision-making process. On days when we experience severe weather such as freezing rain, heavy snowfall or high winds, CDA school district will evaluate road conditions and forecasts early in the morning (between 3 and 4 am). CDA school district considers the ability of school buses to operate safely, as well as general driving conditions for students, parents/guardians, and school staff. Other safety considerations include students who may walk to school or wait at bus stops in frigid or hazardous weather.
CDA school district balances these factors with other safety considerations. For example, a school closure may leave some students at home with no adult supervision. For others, school may be the warmest and safest place to be. We all understand the impact a school closure or delayed start can have on families. Please know that each potential closure decision is weighed thoughtfully with careful consideration for the safety of the school community and based on the best information available.
When we experience severe weather or hazardous road conditions, a CDA school district team will assess current conditions and immediate weather forecasts early in the morning. Any change in normal operations will be announced before 6 am. CDA school district/HFCS will only announce when we have a closure or a delayed start; we will not announce that we are open as scheduled.
Cold Temperatures & Indoor Recess
We will keep students indoors when the weather is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. We check two different weather sites and average the “feels like” temperatures so that we account for the wind chill. Please make sure that you send cold weather gear with your child(ren) so that, when we can send them outside, they’re able to play and be safe.
