December 3, 2009
Dear Parents,
Winter is upon us once again! We are heading into the bad weather season and this seems like a good time to give you a peek
at how the District manages snow clearing, ice salting, and the decision-making for the open/close of school.
First, we have a feature on our District 39 Home page – www.wilmette39.org - entitled "Emergency
Closing Information."If you are ever unsure of whether or not our schools will be open, you will find the most up-to-date
information here. On bad weather days, we will update that link by 5:30 AM. When the weather is questionable, we
will post something indicating that schools are either open or closed.
Next, I want to share with you how we arrive at the decision to close or keep open our schools on a particular day.
It is a fretful process that begins at 4:00 AM...with my scientific "look out the window!" Then, I immediately
begin checking the weather and traffic on TV and on the Internet. I have found that the following weather link is
great and even shows a "radar" picture of an approaching storm: http://www.weather.com
If I get an "all clear," I go back to bed!
Otherwise, I get ready for work and leave home by 4:30 AM. On my way I call the Village Public Works
Department (the snow plow department) for local road conditions. In fact, I can even dial right into a snow plow!
The driver can detail for me the status of street salting and snow clearing in the Village.
Also along the way I call Stan Stankiewicz, District 39’s Director of Operations and Maintenance, who is already
at work. He gives me an update of the salting/plowing progress at each District 39 building. I call Barb Bocage,
Director of Transportation for District 39, to get an update on the status of our buses. Next, I literally drive to the
schools to get a feel for the conditions and identify any trouble spots. If I see any difficult driving areas, I call my
friends at Public Works so they can address the concern.
Between 4:30 and 5:30 AM, all school superintendents in New Trier Township telephone conference heavily
about whether or not to close schools. We share all of the collective information we have. We want to make
decisions as early as possible and the "drop dead" decision time is 5:30 AM. As a group, the NT Township
schools agree to make the same decision on bad weather days.
If a decision is made to close school, then communication with parents and staff begins. The most important part
of that communication involves a Connect-ED call to you, letting you know that schools will be closed. Faculty
and staff are also notified through Connect-ED. At the same time, the website is updated and the media is
informed. Please make sure to notify the district if your phone number changes so it can be updated in Connect-ED.
I hope this helps you understand the process that takes place so often during the winter months. Please let me
know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks!
Ray Lechner, Ph.D.
Superintendent
