Weather conditions can often change rapidly and seriously because of our coastal location, causing the possibility of school closures, delayed openings, or early dismissals. The Falmouth Public Schools’ website will display the announcement on all pages of the website. In addition, the following radio and television stations will carry this announcement:

• Radio
  • WCOD 106.1 FM
  • WQRC 99.9 FM
  • WOCN 104.7 FM
  • WMVY 88.7 FM
  • WXTK 95.1 FM
    
    
• Television
  • WBZ Channel 4
  • WCVB Channel 5
  • NECN Channel 11
  • WHDH Channel 7
  • NBC Channel 10
  • WFXT Channel 25
  • Falmouth Comcast Channel 14

School and town officials monitor weather and road conditions. If conditions are severe enough to threaten the safety of students traveling to and from school, a decision is made to close school, delayed opening, or dismiss early.

• School Closed – All school will be closed for the day. Students and staff are to remain home. Emergency personnel will report to work. All morning, afternoon, and evening activities are also canceled.
  
  
• Two Hour Delayed Opening – All school and bus times will be two hours later than regular starting time. Schools will end at the regularly scheduled times. All other school activities will take place at their originally scheduled times. Morning preschools are canceled. All custodial and cafeteria employees are expected to report at regularly scheduled hours. Students are not to be on school grounds until ten (10) minutes before school begins.
  
  
• Early Dismissal – There are no set times for early closure. This will depend on weather conditions. Generally, schools are closed either one or two hours early. Buses may arrive at their destination up to twenty to thirty minutes later because buses must complete high school and middle school runs, often with difficult road conditions. Elementary schools attempt to call the homes using an automated system or the emergency numbers of preschool, kindergarten, and first grade students. Television and radio stations announce the early closure. Parents/guardians must have a plan for emergency coverage of students in case early dismissal becomes necessary and no one is home. Whenever possible, afternoon preschool programs will be canceled when there is an early dismissal, and all other afternoon and evening activities are also canceled.

Automated messaging will be used to notify families regarding changes in school schedule (i.e., snow day, delayed opening, early dismissal). It may also be used to announce upcoming events and school activities. The recipients of the messages are based on the emergency contact information collected at the beginning of the school year. Please notify the student’s school office if the recipient of the messages is incorrect.

The Superintendent of Schools or designee makes these decisions. Most often they are made in the 4:30 am to 5:30 am time period based on the latest weather information and on conversations with the Department of Public Works and safety officials regarding the condition of roads. The district recognizes that there are inconveniences and dangers to keeping schools open during inclement weather but also that there are concerns when closing because of disruption of family routines. We attempt to make the decision that is safest for families with a priority of also maintaining educational routines.