The decision to close school due to inclement weather is not an easy one. We realize it has a large impact on Dearborn students, parents and staff. We want to share with you the process and factors that we consider when determining a weather-related school closing.  

We know that students are best served by being in class. But we also know that we can’t control the weather, which may make it necessary to close schools. Our first priority is the safety of our students and staff.

Who makes the decision to close school?  

The superintendent makes the final decision to close school based on the factors below.  

What do you consider before closing schools?  

• Information on current road conditions from our transportation and maintenance staff who monitor the roads throughout the night and into the morning 
• Current and predicted weather conditions 
• Amount of snow and ice accumulation 
• Duration and timing of the snow or ice 
• Temperature and wind chill (We use a -20°F wind chill for a sustained amount of time as a guide.) ​
• School building conditions (electricity, heat, water)  
• School parking lot and sidewalk conditions 
• Operation of buses and ability to travel on snow-covered or icy roads 
• Consultation with neighboring school districts and weather officials 

When do we make the decision to close school? 

We understand that when schools close, families need time to make arrangements for childcare and other needs. Therefore, we make every effort to make a decision the night before. However, there may be times when changing conditions or unpredicted weather will make it necessary for us to make a decision in the early morning hours.  

As soon as the decision is made, we begin the multistep process of notifying families and the community, trying to give families as much notice as possible.

How are parents and staff notified of a school closing?  

We use a variety of communications tools to notify the community of a school closing. As soon as the decision has been made to close school we:  

• Send an automated call, email, and/or text to parents and staff. 
• Post on the district website (www.dearbornschools.org)  
• Post on the district’s social media platforms including Facebook, X, and Instagram.
• Post on local news stations including Channel 2, 4, 7 and WJR and WWJ radio and share with other local social media platforms that pick up the information.

The superintendent will also post the closing on his social media platforms. Individual schools may also reach out to their school community via their school website or other communication tools 

Parent Decision 

Remember, the district will try to make the best decision for the majority of our students. While we do our best to monitor conditions throughout the district, it is not possible to evaluate every road or side street. This is why parents always have the right to decide in the best interest of their children and families. ​If you feel that it is not safe for your child to attend school, you always have the option to keep your child at home.  

How you can help 

Please make sure your child’s school has your up-to-date phone number and email on file. Please don’t rely on one communication method, especially the phone call, to get your school closing notifications. The same robocall system is used by most of the districts in our area and across the state, so when there are many districts making phone calls at the same time it can take longer for all calls to be delivered. Check social media, our website, the news channels and your email. Often these will be posted before the call is delivered to you. 

Families should also have their own plan in place for when a snow day or other emergency day off is called. While we can’t predict exactly when bad weather will strike, we all need to be prepared if it  happens.  On a similar note, families also should make sure that their students have proper winter clothing so they are ready to weather Michigan weather. See the National Weather Service’s tips for dressing for cold weather.

Finally, we ask that everyone please be patient as we go through the process to determine if we can safely get all of our students and staff to and from school. Thank you in advance for your consideration and stay safe this winter season.