The following information is provided to help parents understand how the district determines whether or not to hold school or delay opening school on bad weather days and the notification procedures which are in place. Please note that student and staff safety is our first priority. The decision to call off school is a very important one and is made only after thorough consideration. 

     1. Assume that school will open as usual. 

     2. Check with one of the following sources of information 
          to obtain accurate information.

• All major television stations.
• Major radio stations. 

By 6 a.m., a voice mail recording at each school will announce if school is closed. By approximately 6:00 a.m., at the district's main number, (361)903-6400, a voice mail  recording will announce whether school is closed or delayed. 

     3. The district's procedure for closing schools is as follows:   

• We closely monitor weather reports and are in constant contact with the weather bureau. 
• We are in constant contact with the police and sheriff's department. 
• We are in constant contact with neighboring school districts. 
• Administrative personnel begin driving roads and major arteries at about 3:30 a.m. to determine the degree of road safety. 
• Administrators meet at about 5 a.m. to discuss the conditions throughout the district (including outlying areas traveled by school buses) and to determine jointly whether or not to open school. 
• All notification procedures are put into place before 6 a.m. 

     4. If school is called off, the school day must be made up later in
         the year on one of the dates designated as a "bad weather"
         day. 

     5. Other conditions may influence the decision. 

Student and staff safety on the roads is our major consideration. 

Following is a list of all TV and Radio Stations that will broadcast school closings in case of bad weather: