Emergency Communications

If schools must be closed due to weather or any other such circumstance, we aim to have that decision made by 5:30 a.m., if not before. In the event of a school closing, we will inform families and staff through our automated communication system (ParentSquare email, text message, voice message, and app alert), our district website, our district social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn), and the local media.

When schools are closed, all schools and the District Office/Central Offices are closed for students and employees. All after-school activities or events are cancelled. Any emergency staff required to report in person will be contacted by their supervisor.

We will implement either a one or two-hour delayed opening plan. In the event of a delayed opening, all students and employees will report either one or two hours after their regular times.

For example, if the district calls for a two-hour delayed opening:

• An employee who normally reports to work at 7:30 a.m. will report at 9:30 a.m.
• A student who reports to the bus stop at 7:05 a.m. will report at 9:05 a.m.
• A school that starts at 8:00 a.m. will start at 10:00 a.m.

In the event of a delayed opening, we will inform families and staff through our automated communication system (ParentSquare email, text message, voice message, and app alert), our district website, our district social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn), and the local media.

Should a delayed opening take place, schools will not serve breakfast. Schools will resume their normal schedule with lunch being served at regular times. Dismissals will also be during the regular times.

It is important to maintain communications during a delayed opening in the event it must be changed to a school closing. 

Decisions to dismiss early will typically provide a one-hour notice unless circumstances dictate otherwise. In the event that we must close schools early, we will inform families and staff through our automated communication system (ParentSquare email, text message, voice message, and app alert), our district website (www.santaclarausd.org), our district social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn), and the local media. If a student isn't picked up within one hour, emergency contacts may be called to pick up the student.

In the event of an early dismissal, the dismissal order will be as follows:

Once the dismissal time is announced, the school dismissals will be in increments of thirty (30) minutes. In the event of an early dismissal, all after-school events and activities are cancelled. Employees will dismiss as soon as all students exit the building.

Examples

• High schools and alternative schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
• Middle schools (excluding Don Callejon K-8) will dismiss at 12:00 p.m.
• Elementary schools (including Don Callejon K-8) will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.