Weather Guidelines

During the 2024-25 school year, snow days will be treated as follows:

• Snow Days 1-4 will be Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) days; students will learn remotely.
   
• Snow Days 5 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 5:00 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 in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal 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.

View the District Calendar

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.

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. Elementary teachers distributed paper packets of their AMI plans during fall parent-teacher conferences. Electronic copies of AMI plans for all grade levels are available on the District AMI webpage. 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.  

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

Start by reviewing the parent/guardian contact information in the 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.

It is the District’s policy that during cold weather, the decision for outside recess will be based on weather; factors such as wind chill, snow, rain, cloud cover, wind, etc. will determine whether or not it will be beneficial for children to go outside.

Cold Weather

The District follows these procedures for cold temperatures and/or wind chill advisory:

Extremely cold weather can be very dangerous. Parents and guardians should be certain that their children are appropriately clothed with mittens, hats, coats, etc., so they can be comfortable both inside and outside. Most days your student is going outside for some period of time either at recess or traveling to/from school.

From time to time, the Francis Howell School District may need to cancel school due to inclement weather. If the entire District is closed (including the Administration Building), preschool and Vacation Station will also be closed. If schools are closed, but the District Administration Building remains open, Vacation Station and full day preschool will operate at one designated location, Central Elementary, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for current Vacation Station students that are registered for snow day care in advance. 

 For additional information, please visit the Vacation Station page.

We have weather-related safety plans in place to keep students and staff safe while they're at school. Our school and district leaders are trained in tornado preparedness and response, and our students practice tornado drills every school year so they know what to do during a tornado warning. 

Tornado Alerts

• Tornado Watch Versus Tornado Warning - According to the NWS, a tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area; it does not mean a tornado will occur. A tornado warning is more serious; it means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar, and requires immediate action. During a tornado warning, all staff and students are required to seek shelter in a designated tornado-safe area.
   
• Tornado Sirens - St. Charles County Regional Emergency Management recently transitioned to an automated siren activation system. This means outdoor warning sirens will be automatically triggered when the National Weather Service (NWS) issues either a Tornado Warning or a 'Destructive' Severe Thunderstorm Warning. In addition, siren activation is now zone-based. Sirens will no longer be activated countywide. St. Charles County has been divided into four zones, based on tornado path data going back to the 1950s. Now, if the NWS issues a tornado warning (or destructive thunderstorm warning) sirens will automatically sound only in zones in the projected path of the storm. This will cut down on "false alarms" that cause residents in New Melle or Augusta to seek shelter for tornado warnings in West Alton. For additional details on the zone-based activation, visit the St. Charles County Emergency Management webpage. Most Francis Howell schools are located in Zone 2. Daniel Boone Elementary and Francis Howell High School are located in Zone 4. When sirens sound, all students and staff in that zone will seek shelter in their designated tornado-safe areas. Tornado sirens sound for three minutes, and will sound again if the warning is extended.
   
• Tornado Watch - During a tornado watch, or other threatening weather, school officials are alert for developing and dangerous conditions, and actions deemed necessary for safety will be taken per building procedures. Phones will be in operation for emergency calls and for preparedness. Outside calls may not get through during a weather event.
   
• Tornado Warning - During a tornado warning, when sirens have sounded, seek shelter. Do not attempt to pick up students at schools. Disaster experts advise that automobiles are among the most dangerous places to be in a storm. If you are in the parent pickup line when the siren sounds, please go immediately to the school to seek shelter. Administrators are instructed to do a quick sweep of the parking lot to encourage any parents, student drivers, walkers or bikers on the lot to seek shelter indoors. After this quick sweep is completed, the entrance will be locked and staff will move to their designated safe location indoors. Staff will not be available to open the door or answer phones during a tornado warning. Communication will be limited during tornado events due to the supervision of students and the limitations the weather may present.
   
• All Clear - St. Charles County does not issue an "all clear" signal. If sirens activate a second time, it is because a new warning has been issued. The siren silencing does not mean the warning has ended. District administrators consult the National Weather Service for warning expirations or cancellations, and will notify school leaders when it is safe to release students. Students may be picked up by parents after the warning expires or is cancelled.

Tornada Warning Before School:

• Keep children at home or in safe location until tornado warning is lifted. We want to ensure students are not waiting at bus stops during this critical time.
• School buses will be held at the bus garage. The start of school day will be delayed until the tornado warning expires.
• If buses are en route, they will proceed to the nearest school or other predetermined location, and remain there until the warning has expired.

Tornado Warning During School Hours:

• Students and staff will move to designated safe places and proceed into the precautionary duck and cover position.
• Please refrain from coming to school to pick up your child during a tornado warning.
• Parents who arrive at school as the tornado siren is sounding will be asked to wait inside until the warning is lifted and personnel are available to assist parents.

Tornado Warning At Dismissal

• Students will not be dismissed from school while the area is under a tornado warning.
• Students will be held at school and buses will not be allowed to transport students until the tornado warning has expired.
• Please refrain from coming to school to pick up your child during a tornado warning.  
• Our protocols require staff and students to seek shelter in their designated tornado-safe space inside the building, away from doors and windows. This means that staff will not be available to answer phone calls or open doors during an active tornado warning.
• Parents of students who walk or bike home are encouraged to have an alternative transportation plan in place when severe weather is expected.
• Parents should expect longer-than-normal wait times when picking up students prior to dismissal. Pick-up lines during weather events can be long, with waits of 20+ minutes. School vestibules are not designed to accommodate large groups of parents at one time. You may be standing outside in the elements for a short time if there are a lot of parents in front of you. 
• To help avoid delays, notify the office early in the day if you need to make changes to your child's typical dismissal plan. If someone other than a parent is picking up your child, you must notify the office in advance and they must present a valid ID. This applies even if the person is listed as an emergency contact on the child's record.

Buses en Route

• Buses already en route when a tornado warning is issued will proceed to the nearest school or other predetermined safe location to seek shelter.
• Bus drivers and students will remain at that location until the warning has expired.

Communication Procedures

• Phones may not be answered during a tornado warning, as students and staff will be in the precautionary duck and cover position. 
• Parents will be notified via the SchoolMessenger notification system of any changes in transportation, as well as school delays associated with a tornado warning.