Winter Weather Communication

We understand that changes to the school schedule or bus routes impact our families, and that snow days can be a hardship for many of our families. The decision to cancel school due to inclement weather is not one we make lightly.

Bremerton School District leadership puts a lot of time and effort into making decisions about delaying or closing schools due to inclement weather conditions. Each time a decision has to be made, many different interests and issues are taken into consideration but our top priority is always the safety of our students and staff.

We make every effort to make the decision about school closures due to winter weather by 5:30 a.m. We will communicate information and updates about weather impacts on school via:

• District website
  
• District social media: @BremertonSchools on Facebook and @bremertonSD on Twitter
• Email / text messages
• Flash Alert text messages (Learn more and/or sign-up here)
• District News and Information phone line at 360.473.1002 #1 (English) or #2 (Spanish)
• Local media (Kitsap Sun. Kitsap Daily News, and Seattle TV and radio)

Important: We will not be sending out early morning "robo calls" for snow days or winter weather delays. If a decision is made to delay or cancel school the night before, we will notify families and staff by robo call.

Often Kitsap County experiences icy conditions overnight and into the morning that clear-up as the temperatures increase in the morning. In these cases, the Bremerton School District may operate on a 2-hour delayed start.

On days when the District is on a 2-hour delay:

• All schools will open two hours late.

• Buses will operate on regular routes but on a two-hour delay.

• No out-of-district transportation.

• Meals:

• Breakfast will not be served at any school.

• Lunch will be served on the regular schedule.

• No meals will be available for pick-up and meals will not be sent home with students.
  

• No morning or afternoon pre-K

• YMCA Y-Kids and Right At School will open at 8 a.m. (rather than 6 a.m.)

• West Sound Technical Skills Center: No a.m. session / afternoon session on-schedule.

• After-school sports and activities will be held as scheduled unless otherwise communicated by the coach, school or district.

• Schools will end at the regularly scheduled time (view school hours here).

• If we have a 2-hour delayed start on a Wednesday, it will be a full school day (no early release).

As always, students and staff safety is our top priority. We realize the delayed start creates challenges for our families, and we do not make the decision lightly.

In the event of a "snow day" or a school closure due to inclement weather in the Bremerton School District:

• School buildings are closed.

• Students will not participate in Connected Learning (online).

• The day will not count as a school day (so we will be required to make the day up at the end of the school year!).

• District facilities will be closed for outside use/rentals unless otherwise stated.

• YKids, Right At School, and the Boys & Girls Club before/after school programs are canceled.

• If you wake up and it is snowing, or you hear about snow or icy road conditions anywhere in Kitsap County, we encourage you to check your email, the District website, news media, or social media for updates before leaving for school!
• No news is good news! If you don't see information about a delay or closure from any of the above sources, it means schools and buses are on a regular schedule!

As a district we strive to host a safe place for students to learn and staff to work. Although we cannot prevent all incidents, we advise staff to follow the tips listed below to help prevent injury and keep you comfortable.

• Wear appropriate attire/footwear for cold, wet, or icy conditions.

• Use caution when temperatures drop as slick conditions may exist without appearing so.

• Drive cautiously in parking lots.

• Adhere to warning signage.

• Keep to cleared pathways if available.

The Bremerton School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Garth Steedman at 360.473.1031 or the Section 504 Coordinator, John Welsh at 360.473.1012 Mailing address: 134 Marion Avenue North, Bremerton, WA 98312.

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Email: communications@bremertonschools.org
Website: www.BremertonSchools.org
Location: 134 Marion Avenue North, Bremerton, WA, USA
Phone: 360-473-1000

Updated 11/3/2022