School Closings
Cincinnati Public Schools' severe-weather procedure allows the superintendent to close schools for the day or start classes two hours late to allow time for conditions to improve.
When snow, icy conditions or other severe weather are predicted, listen to local TV or radio stations for school-closing announcements.
You will hear either:
- “Cincinnati Public Schools — Closed”
- “Cincinnati Public Schools — Two-Hour Delay, No Morning Preschool”
Two-Hour Delay
During a two-hour delay:
- Yellow buses pick up students at morning bus stops two hours later than normal.
- Metro schedules cannot be adjusted to accommodate CPS’ two-hour delay. Metro buses will run as close to normal schedules as weather and road conditions permit.
- Students who walk or are driven to school by parents should arrive two hours later than the normal start time.
- All morning preschool will be cancelled.
- Afternoon dismissal will occur at the normal time.
This policy also applies to parochial and private-school children who rely on CPS for transportation.
During a two-hour delay, students who ride Metro may:
- Use their School Pass to ride their usual Metro Extra Service bus. Students should go to the bus stop at the regularly scheduled time.
- Catch a later Metro bus to arrive at school at the two-hour delayed start time, but students must pay full fare. (Full fare is $1.00.)
- Have someone drive them to school at the two-hour delayed start time.
Parents are encouraged to find out ahead of time which regular Metro bus could pick up their child closest to home and deliver the child to a stop closest to school. Call Metro’s Information Line, 621-4455, for assistance.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Severe-Weather Procedure
Metro Information
- To find out if bad weather is slowing Metro, call Metro's Detour Hot Line:
632-7538
- To find out which regular bus your child should ride during a two-hour delay, call Metro’s Information Line:
621-4455
Closing Procedure
“Snow days” inconvenience many parents, so the superintendent closes schools only when absolutely necessary.
District officials try to make the decision prior to 5:00 a.m. so media can relay the information to parents in time for them to make child-care decisions.
Following are a few of the resources used in the decision-making process:
- Accuweather
- National Weather Service
- Local weather forecast
- City’s Highway Maintenance Department
- Metro & taxi dispatchers
- Bus companies' recommendations
Staff
