D205 Weather Procedures

When planning for inclement weather during arrival, students are permitted to enter the building at the following times:

• Early Childhood, 8:40 a.m.

• Grades K-5, 8:00 a.m.

• Grades 6-8, 8:15 a.m.

• Grades 9-12, 7:00 a.m.

Schools also plan for inclement weather during the school day and have developed contingency plans for activities (indoor recess) using the following guidelines.

The Madison Early Childhood Center and all D205 elementary schools utilize the Child Care Weather Watch (Illinois State Board of Education) to guide decisions on outdoor activities and The Weather Channel app/website to determine the “feels like” temperature.

NOTE: “Feels like” means how cold it feels, whether caused by wind chill or not (For example, if the direct temperature is 9 °F or if the direct temperature is 15 °F with a “feels like” temperature of 9 °F, recess will be held indoors).  Prior to outdoor recess or dismissal, building leaders will evaluate conditions outside to ensure student safety. Precautionary measures for cold weather outdoor recess include:

• Staff evaluate daily temperatures, snow, and icy conditions to determine student safety, including playground equipment and surfaces.

• Parents/guardians and staff ensure that students are properly dressed for outdoor recess during all seasons. During the winter months, students should be reminded to wear coats, gloves, hats, and boots.

For additional information or questions regarding cold weather guidelines, please contact the main office of your child’s school.

The “Heat index” considers both air temperature and humidity. Precautionary measures for warm weather outdoor recess include:

• Staff evaluate daily temperatures and conditions to determine student safety, including playground equipment and possibly hot surfaces.

• Staff ensure students have access to water before and/or after recess and monitor students for any signs of heat exhaustion or heat-related illness (such as heavy sweating, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, weak pulse, clammy skin, etc.).

• Parents/guardians and staff ensure that students are properly dressed for outdoor recess during all seasons. During the summer months or extended time outdoors, it is recommended that students wear sunscreen when outdoors by arriving to school with sunscreen already applied (NOTE: staff will not apply sunscreen for students).

• Recess Supervisors should be aware of medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, allergy, and medications - especially on warm weather days, and medical conditions may put a student at a higher risk for heat-related illness.

Schools provide access to water and shaded areas as needed for students to cool down and take a break on warm weather days outside.

For additional information or questions regarding warm weather guidelines, please contact the main office of your child’s school.

As an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) member school, York Community High School adheres to following IHSA Heat Policy requirements that represent minimum standards IHSA member schools must follow for all athletic activities and competitions (for both outdoors and indoor facilities that are not air-conditioned).

NOTE: All D205 middle school and elementary school extracurricular activities will also adhere to the following guidelines, which can be found at the Heat, Hydration and Performance section of the IHSA website and pasted below.