Pauls Valley Public Schools is reminding students, staff, parents, and patrons of our district of the protocols we use for decision-making regarding school closures and notifications. We are aware of the current weather forecast for our area, which is expected to begin at some point on Friday, January 23rd.
Notification Timing & Verification
In the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the district will make every effort to announce a school closure by 5:00 a.m. on the day in question. We will notify the night before if and when possible.
The "No News is Good News" Rule: If you have checked the official district notifications listed below and no announcement has been made by 5:00 a.m., please assume that school will be in session. As always, parents/guardians are the final determinants of whether they choose to send their children to school.
Official Notification Channels
The district will broadcast closure messages through our Pauls Valley Schools App as our primary method of communication. If you have not subscribed to notifications through the app, now is a great time to do so. In addition, notifications will be posted on the official Pauls Valley Schools Facebook page.
Media Partners
School closings will also be publicized via the following local television stations: KFOR, KOCO, KWTV, & KOKH.
The Decision-Making Process
The decision to close school is never taken lightly and involves a rigorous evaluation process beginning at 3:30 a.m. Consideration is also given to possible disruptions to school services and deteriorating road conditions that could occur during the school day. Pauls Valley School officials monitor weather warnings, reports, and radar data from the National Weather Service and local media, and rely on information from our local fire department, police department, and emergency management officials.
Factors considered include:
Road Conditions: Pauls Valley staff physically inspect main thoroughfares and neighborhood streets to ensure safe passage for buses and drivers. We also evaluate our rural roads for the safety of school buses, our parents, and our student drivers.
Environmental Hazards: Beyond road conditions, officials evaluate temperatures and wind chills to ensure the safety of children waiting for buses or walking to school.