Inclement weather may result in closing, delayed opening or early dismissal of district schools. If the weather is threatening please tune in to any of the following media contacts. In addition, some of the TV stations provide the opportunity for e-mail or text message notification direct to your computer or mobile phone. At minimum the media will provide up to date school closing information on their web site or on air. Please remember that when inclement weather exists, it is not always easy to make contact with all the media contacts. It is recommended that you use several media contacts.

Radio Stations
    KFOR (1240)
    KFRX (106.3)
    KLIN (1400)
    96KX
    92.9 The Eagle
    104.1 The Blaze

Television Stations
    WOWT (6) - Omaha
    KETV (7) - Omaha
    KLKN TV (8) - Lincoln
    KOLN TV (10/11) - Lincoln

Factors in Determining a Snow/Weather Day

The call for a no school day because of weather is not an easy decision.  There are many factors that go into this decision and listing them all is not possible.  And many of these factors will be debated by our patrons who have strong opinions on whether there should be school or not when there is bad weather.  Please know that making this decision is based on trying to keep our students, staff and patrons safe.

Late Start or Early Dismissal

In District 145, there have traditionally been few late starts or early dismissals.  A late start in our district would mean a 2-hour late start time.  The goal of a late start is to allow students and staff more time to get to school in the morning because of poor road conditions or weather that is happening early in the morning.  The local roads department might also need additional time in the morning to make sure the roads are cleared.  By giving our students and staff extra time, they should be safer. 

When the message goes out and it says, “2-hour late start,” this means school will start two hours later than normal.  For instance, Hamlow Elementary’s normal start time is 8:25 a.m.  With a two-hour late start, they would begin at 10:25 a.m.  Part of a message related to a late start could be “Busses will run accordingly.” This simply means that if your child is picked up by a bus on a normal day at 7:30 a.m., for example, with a two hour late start this time would now be 9:30 a.m.  An early dismissal could possibly be called because of impending weather that would make it difficult for everyone to get home safely at the end of the day.  If an early dismissal is called, the district will communicate to everyone how this would be handled and do so in as timely a fashion as possible.

How the district Communicates and When

If possible, a weather-related school cancellation or late start would be made the night before.  If it is possible to make the call the night before, the district will try to do so by 9:00 p.m.  Sometimes this isn’t always the case.  Many times, weather occurs late at night and into the early morning hours which means the district might not make a call until the morning.  If this is the case, the district hopes to have a message out by 6:00 a.m.

 Anytime a weather-related call is made the information will be shared in a variety of ways.  This includes a message on:

• TV stations: listed above.

  • When a closing is posted on TV Station 10/11, it will be posted on 10/11 Now and KSNB Local4apps.

•  Radio stations: listed above.  

• Our district website www.district145.org

• A text message and phone call via our district alert notification system. For more information, click here.

Note: Sometimes not every TV station or radio station picks up our closing.  This is why the message is sent out through a variety of means.  

Have a Plan as a Family

As a family, please prepare ahead of time if a snow day, late start or early dismissal is called.  What arrangements will need to be made to insure your students have daycare in the case of a cancelled day or early dismissal?  Or, in the case of a late start, who can bring your children to school?  Do not wait until that first morning when there is a snow day to figure this out.  Take the time now to determine your plan of action.

 Athletic/Activity Practices

The middle school and high school athletes do not have practice when a snow day is called and school is canceled.  It is possible school is cancelled for the day because of poor weather the day before or that morning.  And then, by the afternoon, the weather is cleared up and the sun is shining.  No practice will be held that afternoon.  Only under special circumstances would students be allowed to travel into town for practice.  

Please know that when deciding to close school, start late, dismiss early, or keep school open, your child’s safety and welfare are the number one priority.  If needed, the district will make up snow days at the end of the year to insure keeping students safe.  Also, the superintendent appreciates student and patron suggestions for when the district needs to cancel school via Twitter or email messages.  However, this decision will not be based on how many Twitter or email messages are receive.  Please know that the superintendent takes this responsibility very serious and weather related decisions are never made lightly.  Again, the district will do whatever is necessary to keep students, staff and parents safe.