The following procedures are followed on days with inclement weather. Parents make the final decision as to whether or not their child(ren) will attend school on those days, even if school is in session.

The transportation program of the Russell Unified School District involves three levels of responsibility as to whether a child should go to school on a bad weather day. These are the school administration, the bus drivers, and the parents. On days when weather and road conditions may be unfavorable, the superintendent is up before 5 a.m. to listen to weather forecasts, check out road conditions first hand, and to receive calls from various areas of the county. The superintendent will communicate with the Director of Transportation and other administrators and a decision will be made about whether or not to cancel school. If a decision is made to cancel or postpone school, that information will be on area radio and television stations as early as possible, usually by 6:30 a.m.

After a decision has been made to have school and run bus routes, the next decision is made by the individual bus drivers. Some roads may not have been plowed or may be in poor condition. The individual drivers are instructed to turn around if the conditions are unsafe. If part of a bus route cannot be driven, every attempt will be made by transportation personnel to phone parents so that children will not wait needlessly for a bus that is not coming. When the weather is bad, it is likely that the buses will not run on schedule and could be late. It is very important that students be dressed for the weather conditions and when the weather is bad, students should not be left alone to wait for the bus.

The third and ultimate decision must be made by parents. Weather and road conditions can vary a great deal across Russell County. Transportation decisions that are right for most of the school district might not appear safe in a given area. WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE BUSES RUN THEIR SCHEDULED ROUTES, NO CHILD SHOULD BE SENT TO SCHOOL WHEN A PARENT FEELS THE RISK IS TOO GREAT. Students will be excused for a weather related absence.

Rapid changes in the weather will occasionally cause problems. Possible alternatives to calling off school might be running the buses late. If students are in school and the weather turns bad, an early dismissal might be necessary. If the buses are sent home early, every effort will be made to contact parents about the early dismissal, and children should have a clear understanding of alternatives when parents may not be at home. Late starts or early dismissals will be announced on the local radio station.

In a worst case situation, it might be impossible to get children home on the buses. In that case, each family should have arrangements made for their student to be picked up from school. Also, in severe weather, bus drivers have been informed not to allow students to leave the bus unless someone is at the bus stop to pick up the student. These students will be returned to their respective schools.

Because weather is so unpredictable errors in judgement could be made. Every effort will be made to make a decision that is in the best interest of everyone involved and is based on the safety of the students.