No School, Delayed Opening & Emergency Release Procedures
Updated: 11/18/2021
Our goal as a school system is to ensure that our school campuses and facilities are safe for students to attend each day. While every effort will be made to achieve this goal, there will be times when conditions beyond our control, including weather and/or environmental factors, might force a decision to release school early, delay the opening of school or cancel school altogether. This information is provided in an effort to clarify the plans that will take effect under these circumstances.
The Decision-Making Process
The Superintendent is responsible for deciding when to cancel, delay or close our schools. This decision-making process, however, is influenced by a number of factors including consultation with the Departments of Public Works in Acton and Boxborough, local public safety officials and our own facilities and transportation offices. The Superintendent will make every effort to make a determination by 5:30 a.m. regarding any school closure or delays for the day.
Communication
If schools are closed or delayed, the information will be disseminated through the following means:
- District website (www.abschools.org )
- The district’s automated system that places calls and/or text messages to home and cell phone numbers provided to PowerSchool
- Local media including Channel 4 WBZ; Channel 5 WCVB; Channel 7 WHDH; Channel 10 NBC Boston; and FOX 25.
If you would like to change your contact information, including phone number(s) and/or email, or if you would like to opt out of the automated notifications, please update your information in the PowerSchool Parent Portal
School Closure
If the decision is made to cancel school for the day a “No School” announcement will be made and all schools and programs within the Acton-Boxborough Regional School System will be closed. Our automated notification system will be used to contact home and cell phones provided by parents/guardians through PowerSchool by 6:00 a.m.
If a “No School” decision is made then the following will apply:
- All classes PreK-12 and school activities will be cancelled for the day, unless otherwise notified. This will include all before and after school activities, sports and extracurricular events.
- All after school and evening meetings will be cancelled unless an exception is made.
- All Community Education programs will be cancelled.
- Transportation of students to out-of-district schools will be cancelled when the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District is closed.
- All offices will be closed.
Delayed-Opening Announcement
If extra time is deemed necessary to safely clear roads and sidewalks, a decision will be made to shorten the day through a “Delayed-Opening.” Once this decision is made, either a “1-Hour” or “2-Hour” Delayed-Opening will be announced.
Under such conditions, the following will apply:
- Transportation will begin their schedules and pick-up times as close to the delayed time of opening as possible. For example, if a bus run begins at 6:45 a.m. on a regular school day and a two-hour delay is called, that bus will then aim to pick-up students at 8:45 a.m.
- Schools will be dismissed at their regular times.
- Meals will be served at their regular times in the cafeteria.
- Kindergarten AM sessions will be cancelled.
- PM and All Day sessions at the Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program (all sites) will begin at 12:15. For both sites, AM sessions will be cancelled.
- Community Education Extended Day will open on a delayed schedule. All after-school activities and programs will operate under their normal schedule.
- School offices will open either one or two hours later depending on the delay announced.
Emergency Release
Once students arrive at school and the buildings are open, every effort will be made to operate a normal schedule and release students at the normally scheduled time. However, in the event of severe weather or other emergency conditions, it may be necessary for the Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools to release students before the end of the school day. If such a decision needs to be made then the automated notification system will be used to alert parents and guardians. Please have a plan in place with your child who might arrive home early on these unusual occasions.