It's freezing outside, who makes the call to close Central Indiana schools?

Subzero temperatures early next week could force local schools to make decisions that kids wait with bated breath to hear: stay open or close their doors for the day.

In most area school districts, including Marion County and Hamilton County, district superintendents make the final call after weighing a variety of factors, like road safety and weather predictions.

If school is canceled because of the weather, district leaders then can decide whether to hold an e-learning day or give students an old-fashioned snow day.

In a letter to families this week, Wayne Township Superintendent Jeff Butts said the decision to close schools due to weather is never taken lightly.

"It is rarely an easy decision and one that I make with a great deal of thought," Butts said.

If district leaders do choose to close school for the day or have a two-hour delay, they likely make that call early in the morning before 6 a.m.

More winter safety:Subzero temperatures are on the way: Tips to safely heat your home, prevent frozen pipes

Noblesville school cancellations

Noblesville school officials follow a specific plan when they consider announcing/declaring a delay, eLearning day or closing due to the weather.

The district's weather team drives roads in the area to assess safety and snowfall. They share their findings with one another. Then the district's superintendent makes the decision to delay or cancel the school day based on the team's gathered findings.

What factors typically lead to closing school for the day? Blocked or impassable roads in the area that prevent buses from running or county or state weather emergencies with road closures can play into the decision.

In the event of an unplanned eLearning day, teachers are available to communicate assignments and there's online technology assistance for families. Like other districts, Noblesville typically uses eLearning in the event of bad weather but school closures, namely snow days, are still possible.

How Hamilton Southeastern decides on closures

Hamilton Southeastern School officials encourage parents to follow the district's social media for updates ahead of rough weather.

The district's website says leaders decide whether to close or not based on a variety of factors, including the weather forecast, wind chill, and consultations with other districts and city and county leaders. As early as 4:30 a.m., HSE transportation staff do test runs of district bus routes to identify potential road hazards.

Like Noblesville and HSE, Carmel Clay Schools' "Snow Hounds" make weather-related decisions after evaluating road conditions in the wee hours of a potential snow day.

"We consider the forecast and timing of expected weather, the ability to clear the streets, current and future road conditions, and the safety of students at bus stops or walking to school," Emily Bauer, a spokesperson for Carmel Clay Schools, wrote in an email.

In cases of extreme predicted snowfall, some school districts may make the call the night before.

Do schools ever close because it's just too cold?

Wind chill predictions can depend on time and location, so many school districts often don't rely on that as a reason for closing schools.

In the event of harsh cold weather that's deemed, students who ride the bus should prepare accordingly, Bauer said.

"All students who ride the bus should be sure to check the morning temperatures and dress appropriately with layers, hats, and gloves to protect their extremities in the cold," Bauer wrote.

Many Marion County school districts use the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s wind chill chart. If the wind chill is in the 10 minutes of frostbite range, then districts may call for a two-hour delay. If the wind chill remains in that range, the whole day could be canceled, according to most districts' inclement weather policies.

According to the NOAA chart, wind speed would need to reach 55 mph for frostbite to strike in 10 minutes if the air temperature is 0 degrees.

More on the impending storm:Indiana winter storm could bring sub-0 temps and snow. What to expect in the days ahead

If NOAA predicts that the air temperature will be -10 degrees or below at 7 a.m., Marion County schools may opt for a two-hour delay. If the temperature is predicted to remain at -10 degrees or below by 9 a.m. the district may close school for the whole day, according to the districts' policies.

If a school has utility issues such as the heating or water supply to the school has been hindered due to the cold, that can lead to just that school closing for the day rather than an entire district.

For parents to get the most up-to-date accurate information on school closures, districts urge parents to follow specific schools or school districts on their social media pages, and regularly check family’s ParentSquare accounts.

Rachel Fradette is a suburban education reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at rfradette@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @Rachel_Fradette.

Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @CarolineB_Indy.

Caroline’s reporting is made possible by Report for America and Glick Philanthropies. As part of its work in Marion County, Glick Philanthropies partners with organizations focused on closing access and achievement gaps in education. 

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