Inclement weather always presents a dilemma, and the decision to close or keep schools open is always difficult. There are several considerations taken into account with each and every weather event.

There is no specific temperature that will automatically trigger a decision to close school. However, special consideration is given when temperatures are below zero or wind chills are severe.
 
Factors to consider:
* Are the roads passable? Can school buses safely navigate residential streets? Will school district personnel have trouble making it into work? 
* Can a student, who is appropriately dressed for the weather, safely walk outside for 10-20 minutes? The majority of "walkers" have a ten-minute or less walk. Have residents had a reasonable amount of time to clear sidewalks after the most recent snowfall?
* What is the long-term weather forecast? Will closing school one day mean closing for several more due to similarly predicted conditions?
* Will the potential benefits of closing school outweigh the potential disruptions to our families' lives and work schedules?

What other school districts and associate districts choose to do is also a consideration, and the superintendents of each associate district participate in a group phone call to discuss their plans. Each school district has its own unique factors to take into consideration, so what another school district decides may not be the right decision for LT.

The decision to close school
When the District plans to close school, the announcement is immediately posted on the website and to the District Facebook and Twitter pages. The information is also sent to local news outlets, and an email is sent to each family. Families will also receive a telephone call from our emergency automated telephone service either the night before or early in the morning of a school closure.

We also have the ability to send text messages. To opt-in to this service, be sure your cell phone numbers are up to date in Infinite Campus. Please log into the portal or call the Main Office to update.

The safety of our students and staff is of the upmost importance; however, it is always a parent's prerogative to keep their child home from school. Only a parent can decide what is in their child's and family's best interest. A parent need only call the school (NC: 708-354-4700 / SC: 708-579-6528) to report their child's absence.

Years ago if kids were smoking, you could smell it. Today, e-cigarettes are virtually smokeless and odorless. E-cigarettes are electronic devices with a battery, heating element, and place to hold a liquid that is heated to produce an aerosol or mix of small particles. E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are sometimes called e-cigs, vape pens or vapes. Using an e-cigarette is sometimes called vaping or JUULing. (A JUUL is a popular brand of e-cigarettes that has cornered about 65% of the market.) Years ago, vaping pens looked like cigarettes. Today they often resemble a USB port, with flavor pods geared toward kids - everything from mango to crème brulée to Cap'n Crunch Berries. Each pod is equal to one pack of cigarettes. The device can fit in the palm of a hand and emits little to no odor and is vaporless.

Users sometimes say vaping is less dangerous than smoking, when really they should be saying vaping is less lethal.

The misconception that vape oil is just water with no nicotine is inaccurate. Vape oil does contain nicotine, and it is not regulated by the FDA. Vape chemicals used in liquid form can be more concentrated and dangerous than traditional cigarettes. The synthetic chemicals that make up vaping oils are harmful and may be carcinogenic and contain nicotine. The fact remains that nicotine interferes with natural brain development, including areas responsible for decision making, judgment and planning. Vaping is unhealthy and is illegal for those under the age of 18.

At LT, vaping infractions have more than quadrupled in just the last year. Results of the Illinois Youth Survey administered last spring indicate that 29% of freshmen, 46% of sophomores, 52% of juniors and 58% of seniors tried vaping within the last year. Fines are imposed by Western Springs and LaGrange for the first offense, and students are required by LT to attend two 1-hour vaping education sessions. The second offense results in an in-school suspension. A second offense in Western Springs also requires a station adjustment, which may involve a hefty fine, community service or a change in curfew. In LaGrange, the second offense carries a $120 fine and referral to juvenile court.

School Handbook: It is against school policy to be in possession of or use any tobacco products (cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vape pens, loose tobacco, chewing tobacco, non-THC containing liquids, and vape paraphernalia) or paraphernalia (lighters, matches, and rolling papers), regardless of the age of the student, on school grounds, on property adjacent to the school, or at any school function. Tobacco products and paraphernalia will be confiscated from students and not returned to them. In addition, the village ordinances for Western Springs and LaGrange requiring a fine for minors, under the age of 18, who are seen smoking, or who have tobacco in their possession, will be strictly enforced.

Last month, the Parent Community Network hosted a workshop, entitled The Truth About Vaping, which was broadcast live via LTTV. Click  The Truth About Vaping to view the program. In addition, the CDC has an informative website with facts, risks, prevention techniques and resources for more vaping information.