Dear Parent(s), Guardian(s), and Caregiver(s),
New England weather can be unpredictable, and deciding whether to delay or cancel school is never easy. While students may welcome an occasional snow day, the safety of students and staff is always the top priority.
When severe weather is expected, the District makes decisions as early as possible, typically by 5:30 am, giving families and staff time to adjust their plans.
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about weather-related school decisions.
How are decisions made?
The Superintendent works closely with District operations staff, local Departments of Public Works, and police officials in Northborough and Southborough.
Several factors are considered:
Road and sidewalk conditions Snow accumulation and expected clearing times Temperature and wind chill School building conditions, including heat and electricity Weather forecasts and anticipated changes throughout the day
What if school is open, but I believe travel is unsafe?
Parents and guardians always have the option to keep their child home if they believe travel conditions are unsafe. Families of student drivers are encouraged to remind them to drive slowly, allow extra time, and prioritize safety.
How do delayed openings work?
When conditions are expected to improve, the District may announce a one-hour or two-hour delay.
School start times move forward by one or two hours. Bus pickup times shift by the same amount. School dismissal times remain unchanged.
School Start, Dismissal, and Early Release Times
What happens to missed school days?
Massachusetts requires students to attend school for 180 days. The state law requires school districts to create a 185-day school calendar, given the high likelihood of school cancellations over the course of a school year.
When school is canceled due to weather, the missed day is added to the end of the school year. The school year must conclude no later than June 30.
What happens if there is a power outage?
The District's goal is to keep schools open whenever it is safe to do so.
All schools have power: Schools will generally open as scheduled. Widespread neighborhood outages: A delay or cancellation may be necessary. An isolated school outage: Only the affected school may need to close.
How will families be notified?
Families can find school delay and cancellation announcements through:
ParentSquare: Email, phone, and text notifications
District Website: https://www.nsboro.k12.ma.us
Local Television: WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WHDH (Channel 7), Boston 25, and NECN
The District aims to communicate weather-related decisions by 5:30 am, whenever possible.
The goal is always to balance student learning with the safety and well-being of students, families, and staff. Respectfully,
Gregory L. Martineau
Superintendent of Schools
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