School Closure Information

2023-24 School Cancellation/Delay Process Memo - Nov. 10, 2022

Cancellations and delays are generally based on overall road conditions in Mt. Blue Regional School District’s ten towns--Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Temple, Starks, Vienna, Weld, and Wilton--and our ability to safely run buses. In some circumstances, cancellations and delays may also be based on forecasted conditions.

Mt. Blue Regional School District utilizes full-day cancellations, 1-hour delays, 2-hour delays, and early dismissals depending upon the forecasted conditions and timing of storms. If school is delayed for 1-hour, all bus pick-up times and school start times will be delayed by exactly 1-hour. For example, if your student would normally have been picked up by 7:15 a.m. and the school day began at 7:45 a.m., the new pick-up time would be 8:15 a.m. and the new school start time would be 8:45 a.m. Similarly, for a 2-hour delay, all bus pick-up times and school start times will be delayed by exactly 2 hours.

If school is canceled or delayed, communication regarding these decisions will be relayed to you via: BrightArrow through PowerSchool (our automated phone, text, and email system). This notification occurs by 5:00 a.m. if possible. Notifications will also be posted on:

• District website: mtbluersd.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/MBRSD
• Online newspaper: dailybulldog.com
• TV stations: Channel 2, Channel 6, Channel 8 and Channel 13
• Radio stations: WKTJ 99.3 FM

There may be times when school is in session but the weather is expected to worsen throughout the day and into the evening causing the district to cancel all after-school programs, activities, and athletic events. Communication on these occasions will be via announcements in schools, our automated messaging system, our district website, and Facebook.
 
Please understand that attempting to forecast the weather conditions here in western Maine is difficult even for our professional meteorologists. Mt. Blue Regional School District will always attempt to make the best decisions possible with the safety of our students at the forefront. However, please know we understand that it is always the parent/guardian who makes the final decisions regarding the safety of your student(s). If there is ever a circumstance where school has not been canceled or delayed, yet you feel as though it is best to keep your child home because of road conditions, do not hesitate to do so. For safety reasons, always call the school if your child(ren) will be absent.