Delays & Closings
We understand that our decision to delay or close school in bad weather has a big impact on families. We also understand that our students are better served academically and socially by being in school. As always, our top priority is the safety of our students on the bus, walking, or driving to school.
Our Superintendent, Director of Operations, Assistant Superintendent, and Transportation Supervisor begin to closely watch the weather, starting between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m.
Weather radar, radio, and TV stations are monitored and roads are driven to visually document the weather. Contact with our other staff members as well as other area superintendents is extremely important in this process to see if weather conditions are different and changing in our county school areas. Once a decision is made, it is relayed to our staff members, FCS families through the Remind platform, our website, and local radio and TV stations.
Although we do our absolute best, we know that often there is no perfect decision. The fact that our high school and middle schools start earlier than our elementary schools makes our decisions extremely difficult when ice or fog are involved. Please use your best judgment if you do not feel that it is safe for your child to attend school.
3-Hour Delay/1-Hour Extension of School Day
Under normal circumstances, we would use a 2-hour delay, however we also have the option to utilize a 3-hour delay/1-hour extension. This 3-hour delay/1-hour extension fulfills the minimum school day requirement by state law. Below are our normal start and end times as well as the start and end times for a 3-hour/1-hour extension of the school day. Note: There will be no preschool on a 3-Hour Delay.
| Normal School Start/End Times | 3-Hour Delay/1-Hour Extension Start/End Time |
| FHS: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | FHS: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| Middle Schools (Grades 6-8): 7:25 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Middle Schools (Grades 6-8): 10:25 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| Bigelow Hill, Chamberlin Hill, Wilson Vance School: 9:05 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Bigelow Hill, Chamberlin Hill, Wilson Vance School: 12:05 - 4:30 p.m. |
| Northview, Jefferson, Whittier: 9:15 a.m. - 3:40 p.m. | Northview, Jefferson, Whittier: 12:15 - 4:40 p.m. |
|
FCS Preschool: Afternoon Class: 1:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. Full Day: 9:30 a.m. - 3:50 p.m. |
FCS Preschool: closed |