Inclement Weather

How to Learn of School Cancellations

During the winter weather season families are encouraged to stay connected with the district in several ways to learn of school cancellations.

When the chance for severe or inclement weather looms, we will only post the cancellation of school, athletic events and other activities. We will not post when school, athletic events and activities are proceeding as scheduled.

If school is canceled due to snow or bad weather, the information will be available in these ways:

Notification to parents and staff via text and email information on file
Local television and radio stations
District website — http://www.olatheschools.org
District social media pages
By calling the district information line, 913-780-8000

Anyone who is in the district's system, and who has included a cell phone number, will receive a text message in case of the cancellation of school. If there has been a change in a parent's phone number or email address since enrollment, please notify the child's school.

Inclement Weather Procedures

Plan A - No School

All district facilities are closed.
Facility rental is canceled.
Johnson County Parks and Recreation daycare is closed.
Students do not report to school.
Activities:
- Decisions on high school activities will be made later in the day.
- No elementary or middle school activities or athletics.
Certified and classified staff do not report to work. Facilities, grounds, maintenance, custodial and food service staff report to work as directed by their supervisor.

Inclement Weather Options (PDF) Inclement Weather Options - Spanish (PDF)

Plan B - No School

All district facilities are closed.
Facility rental is canceled.
Johnson County Parks and Recreation daycare is open at Forest View Elementary, Indian Creek Elementary, Mahaffie Elementary, Meadow Lane Elementary, Pleasant Ridge Elementary and Sunnyside Elementary (2024-25 school year). Participants must be pre-registered in the Inclement Weather Day Childcare Program to attend (for current OST participants only).
Students do not report to school.
Activities:
- Decisions on high school activities will be made later in the day.
- No elementary or middle school activities or athletics.
Staff:
- Do not report to work: school building certified or classified staff.
- Report to work (as directed by supervisor): facilities, grounds, maintenance, custodial, food service staff.
- Work remotely (or as directed by the superintendent): Education Center, Technology Support Center, Instructional Resource Center certified and classified staff; building principals and assistant principals; building and district secretaries may work remotely per administrator request.

Inclement Weather Options (PDF) Inclement Weather Options - Spanish (PDF)

Plan C - Two-Hour Delay

All district facilities are open two hours later than normal.
Facility rental is open.
Johnson County Parks and Recreation daycare is open in the morning from 9-11 a.m. and during normal afternoon hours.
Students report to school two hours later than their original start time. Staff report two hours later than their original report time (unless otherwise noted by supervisor).
- High School, Olathe Transition Support Program (OTSP), Prairie Learning Center:
  - 9:40 a.m.- 2:40 p.m. (Staff report at 9:15 a.m.)
- Middle School:
  - 10:20 a.m.-3:20 p.m. (Staff report at 9:40 a.m.)
- Elementary School:
  - 10:55 a.m.- 3:55 p.m. (Staff report at 10:15 a.m.)
  - Morning early childhood classes are canceled.
  - Afternoon early childhood classes attend as regularly scheduled.
- Heartland Early Childhood Center:
  - 10:20 a.m. – 3:20 p.m. (Staff report at 9:40 a.m.)
  - Morning early childhood classes are canceled.
  - Afternoon early childhood classes attend as regularly scheduled.
  - Full-day Head Start classes follow the delayed start schedule.
- Harmony Early Childhood Center:
  - 10:55 a.m. -3:55 p.m. (Staff report at 10:15 a.m.)
  - Morning early childhood classes are canceled.
  - Afternoon early childhood classes attend as regularly scheduled.
  - Full-day Head Start classes follow the delayed start schedule.
Breakfast service will not be provided on delayed start days due to arrival times being so close to lunch. Lunch service will be provided as close to the normal time as possible.
Activities:
- All student trips leaving prior to noon are canceled.
- All morning practices and before school activities are canceled.
- Decisions on after-school athletics and activities will be made later in the day.
Transportation:
- All pick-up times are delayed by two hours. Please note that bus schedules on the Stopfinder bus app will not reflect the two-hour delay.
- All drop-off times will run on the normal schedule.
- Parochial and work site shuttles scheduled prior to noon are canceled (i.e. Crews, OTSP).
- Transportation for partner schools is delayed by two hours (Lake Mary, Kansas School for the Deaf etc.).

Inclement Weather Options (PDF) Inclement Weather Options - Spanish (PDF)

Inclement Weather FAQs

What is the best way to stay up to date on school closings?

We encourage our school communities to be aware of potential inclement weather. To best serve our community in regard to closings or delays, we also encourage our patrons to check our website (www.olatheschools.org), download our free mobile app and follow our social media platforms for the most current information. We will post updates only if there is a closing. Additionally, parents in the district will receive an email and text message in the event of a school closing.

If there is a cancellation, what time of day does the district make that call?

What is the amount of snow or temperature at which school will be cancelled?

There is no “magic number.” A variety of factors are taken into consideration when considering cancelling school, including temperature, precipitation, wind speed, wind chill, road and sidewalk conditions, etc. All conditions and variables are closely monitored by district leadership. Many times, officials will work through the night monitoring the conditions. The safety of our students and staff is our first priority. Olathe Public Schools takes cancellations very seriously.

Will we be notified if school is not cancelled?

Why is school sometimes cancelled the night before and other times during the early morning hours?

What if inclement weather occurs during the school day?

If school is in session when deteriorating weather conditions are present will the district dismiss early?

If school is in session when deteriorating weather conditions are present, regular dismissal time will be observed rather than dismissing students early from school. District administrators are mindful of safety issues such as transportation, particularly for those students who normally ride the bus or are driven to and from school; lack of supervision at home because of an unscheduled dismissal; and the uncertainty of sending children away from a protected school environment and out into hazardous weather conditions.

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In This Section

Inclement Weather

How to Learn of School Cancellations

Inclement Weather Procedures

Plan A - No School

Plan B - No School

Plan C - Two-Hour Delay

Inclement Weather FAQs

What is the best way to stay up to date on school closings?

If there is a cancellation, what time of day does the district make that call?

What is the amount of snow or temperature at which school will be cancelled?

Will we be notified if school is not cancelled?

Why is school sometimes cancelled the night before and other times during the early morning hours?

What if inclement weather occurs during the school day?

If school is in session when deteriorating weather conditions are present will the district dismiss early?

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Links & Resources

Official Notices

Community Involvement