This story was written in response to a reader question submitted through our Open Source platform. Reader Kyla Bourne asked if we would be publishing school closings this year. Do you have a question you want our reporters to answer?
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The temperature recently took a turn toward chilly, and naturally that has led parents, students, and school administrators to begin pondering the impending potential of school closings.
In years past, Knox Pages has been an active participant in trying to make this information available to our readers in as timely a manner as possible.
Most often this meant a reporter getting up at 4:30 a.m., monitoring email, checking school websites, etc.
However, schools have now become much more efficient at providing that message directly to students and their parents via text alerts. In fact, schools are so efficient at this task, readers rarely come to us for this information.
So, we’re going to bow out of this particular endeavor going forward.
However, we do want to make the information available to readers that is most pertinent to them. So, if you’re not already registered, here’s how best to receive school closing information in your district.
Centerburg School District: Supt. Ryan Gallwitz said he wants parents and community members to download the district’s mobile app, named Centerburg Schools, where push notifications, text and calls work through.
Danville School District: Danville operates an automated mass calling system that sends messages to all students/parents at one time, Supt. Jason Snively said. Also check school social media accounts for closings too.
East Knox School District: According to East Knox Local Schools website, to receive a text or email notification regarding school closings, delays, or emergencies, please text “opt in” or “subscribe” to 67587, which is the district’s new messaging system from SchoolMessenger.
If you have questions or need help call 800.920.3897. SchoolMessenger allows schools, districts, colleges and universities to proactively contact their constituents through voice, text and email messaging, the school’s website states.
Fredericktown School District: Fredericktown Local Schools uses “SchoolMessenger,” which will deliver a recorded message to all students home numbers listed in PowerSchool. Fredericktown Local Schools also utilizes the following outlets for school closing/delay information:
Fredericktown Local School’s Facebook
WCMH 4 TV (Columbus)
WSYX 6 TV (Columbus)
WBNS 10 TV (Columbus)
Highland Local School District: See the links below to our local news networks to see the most up to date closings and delays. Highland will also notify parents through the School Messenger system.
WCMH (Channel 4)
WSYX (Channel 6)
WBNS (Channel 10)
Knox County Career Center: The career center uses its all-call system to contact staff and students when the school has a delay or closes, Supt. Kathrine Greenich said. “Our delays and closings are based on what our six associate schools decide. We try and be open if we have more than 50-55% of our students. I communicate with each of the superintendents the night before or the morning. Our mornings can begin as early as 4:15 a.m.”
Greenich added Knox Technical Center mostly follows the high school delay and closing because they have classes that start throughout the day and evening and are sometimes open when the high school is closed.
Knox County Learning Center: The learning center will use local radio stations to alert students and parents if there’s a snow closing.
Mount Vernon School District: Mount Vernon City Schools will utilize ‘Ohio Alerts,’ which is an automated phone text alert system. We encourage all families to take advantage of this system as it is the fastest way to communicate school closings, delays, and general information. Sign-up for ‘Ohio Alerts’ can be accessed via the district website.
For those interested in seeing what other school districts are closing, WMFD, WMAN and WQIO have traditionally provided this service to the public for free as well.
