FHSD Community:

I hope you are enjoying this unseasonably warm stretch of weather. With forecasted temperatures in the 70s this week, it's hard to believe winter weather is right around the corner!

We want to make sure all families are familiar with our winter weather procedures. Please review the important information below, and ensure your contact information is up to date in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal so you don't miss important weather notifications.

Thank you,

Mark Delaney

Interim Superintendent



IMPORTANT WINTER WEATHER REMINDERS

During the 2025-26 school year, snow days will be treated as follows:

• Snow Days 1-5 will be Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) days, and students will learn remotely. 
• Snow Days 6 and beyond will be made up at the end of the school year.

Other things to note about our inclement weather procedures:

• The decision to cancel school is made for the entire District. The Francis Howell School District encompasses over 150 square miles, and there will be times when the conditions in some parts of the District may be deemed unsafe while conditions in another part of the District may not be as bad. The decision to cancel school is made for the entire District, and not for a specific area.

• The District makes every attempt to reach a decision regarding the closing of school by 5 a.m. However, there may be times when the weather conditions are changing rapidly in the early morning hours, and the decision could be delayed. While the District strives to make the best decision for all students, there may be times when a parent needs to make the final determination on their child’s attendance on a particular day. 

• The District will provide communication about closures via the SchoolMessenger notification system. It is important that your information is up-to-date with the school to ensure you receive timely notification. Closure information will also be provided via the District’s website and social media channels, and on local TV and radio stations.  



• The District may dismiss early when winter weather arrives quickly and unexpectedly during the school day. Parents/guardians who work outside the home during school hours are encouraged to have a plan in place to ensure an adult is available to care for young children if they get home early. Make certain that your children know where to go if no one is at home when they arrive.



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are AMI days?

AMI, or Alternative Methods of Instruction, can be used for up to 36 hours of lost or canceled instructional time due to exceptional or emergency circumstances, such as inclement weather closures. The District has utilized AMI days for the last several years. The Academic Team plans to evaluate the effectiveness of AMI days this year. Keep an eye out for a survey next spring to provide your feedback on AMI days!

How will AMI days be implemented? 

All classwork and tasks for AMI days have been designed with the assumption that students do not have access to computers or Internet at home. Paper packets of AMI assignments were distributed by individual buildings at the beginning of the school year and/or fall conferences. Electronic copies of AMI plans for all grade levels are available on the District website. Accessible versions are available upon request. 

How does the District determine whether or not to close school due to weather?

The decision to cancel school is not made lightly. Around 3:30 a.m. on days when the weather is questionable, the Superintendent and other designated staff drive main roads, side roads, and neighborhood streets all across the District. We have a large District, with homes spread across more than 150-square miles. Many of our families live in rural areas where road conditions are often less favorable than more populated areas. The decision to close school is made for the entire District. This means that there may be times when the roads near your home look fine, while roads near other families are completely covered and treacherous.  

Why isn’t the decision to close school made the night before?

Our goal is always to make the right decision as early as possible so that families can plan accordingly. If significant severe weather arrives in the evening and it’s abundantly clear that we won’t be able to have school the next day, we will make the call that night and communicate with families. However, in many cases, the timing of a weather event means we have to wait until early morning hours to accurately assess the roads. We know that weather forecasts are not always accurate, and we want to avoid making a call too early, only to find out roads were fine and we could have safely held school. The goal is always to make and communicate a decision regarding the closing of school by 5 a.m. However, there may be times when the weather conditions are changing rapidly in the early morning hours, and the decision could be delayed. While the District strives to make the best decision for all students, there may be times when a parent needs to make the final determination on their child’s attendance on a particular day.

I am not receiving automated weather alerts. What can I do?

Start by reviewing the parent/guardian contact information in Infinite Campus Parent Portal to make sure it is correct. (Go to the person icon in the top right corner > Settings > Contact Preferences). If your phone number or email address is incorrect or missing, add the correct information and click “Save.” The system should update within 24 hours and you should begin receiving alerts. FHSD staff should make sure their contact information is correct in Skyward.