Schedule Changes
Type of Schedule Changes
Our top priority is the safety of students and staff. When emergency conditions result in school schedule changes, the district will notify families and staff using our phone/email notification system. The information below will help you understand the brief notifications you receive. Schedule changes apply to all schools and remote learners.
1. LIMITED BUS TRANSPORTATION
Alternative Bus Stops will be used both morning and afternoon unless a “change” announcement is made for the afternoon. If the weather allows for regular bus stops in the afternoon, the change will be announced before dismissal time. Schools will be open at their regularly scheduled time.
2. TWO HOURS LATE
This means buses will begin their first route two hours late, but at regularly scheduled stops UNLESS the message specifies ALTERNATIVE BUS STOPS. There will be no breakfast, no morning or afternoon classes for preschool and ECEAP, and no morning classes for PSSC. Afternoon classes for PSSC will be on time. No transportation will be provided to schools outside of our district. Schools will dismiss at regular times. (Example: If your student normally rides Route 101 and gets on the bus at 6:42 a.m., now the same stop would be at 8:42 a.m.)
In the event that conditions call for a 2-hour delay on an early release day, school will be canceled for the day.
3. SCHOOLS CLOSED
This means all Highline schools are closed for ALL regular and/or special program students. All scheduled activities, meetings, and athletics are also canceled or postponed. No transportation will be provided to schools outside our district even though they may be open that day. District administrative offices remain open.
4. SCHOOLS & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES Closed
This means that all Highline schools and administrative offices are closed. No transportation will be provided to schools outside of our district.
5. EVENING ACTIVITIES CANCELED
If travel conditions become hazardous after school has been dismissed, evening meetings and activities may be canceled.
Snow, windstorms, earthquakes and power failures can cause disruptions for schools and families. During these difficult times, Highline Public Schools will do all it can to communicate vital information to parents and students.
School Schedule Decisions
Making a decision about weather-related school closures is always difficult, because so many different situations have to be considered. We do our very best to balance the many interests at stake, but we recognize that no matter what decision we make, it will not please everyone.
We take the decision-making process very seriously. Student and staff safety is always our number one priority.
Our staff begins evaluating road conditions across the district at 3:30 a.m. Here is the process:
- Transportation staff and our chief operations officer drive our district’s most challenging areas.
- They compare notes with transportation staff from neighboring districts to assess conditions outside our local area.
- They review hourly weather forecasts to assess whether conditions are improving or deteriorating.
- We make the best decision possible given the information we have, with student and staff safety in mind.
If you haven't already done so, please check with your school office to make sure your student's emergency contact information is up-to-date, or you can check and update the information in ParentVUE.
Tips for Parents
Remember:
- School schedule change announcements apply for that day only.
- If no announcement is made by Highline during a weather event, schools, offices, and buses are operating normally.
- Continue to look for updated announcements throughout the day. If conditions change rapidly or unexpectedly, we may need to make a quick decision to cancel school or send students home early.
- Keep in mind that some areas of the district experience more severe weather and driving conditions than others. School closures and schedule changes are districtwide, even if your neighborhood is not severely impacted.
- Please do not call the transportation office, your school, or the district offices. Calls divert staff from responding to the current situation.