To our Leonia Public Schools Community,
December is here, and we know what that means: the winter weather watch has officially begun!

The arrival of snow, ice, and frigid temperatures can impact all of our daily routines. Safety is our top priority, and we take every weather decision seriously. To give insight into the decision-making process and share what you can expect from me, we’ve summarized the steps we take when considering any weather-related schedule changes.

The Day Before a Storm: I begin the process by communicating with our key administrators, including our Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds, to review multiple weather reports. We continuously review the data so our team can prepare the necessary equipment and materials. At the same time, communication begins between local school districts in our area, including with our colleagues in Edgewater. To ensure the safety of all of our staff and students, our weather decisions are often made collaboratively.

The Morning of a Storm: Weather reports are reviewed throughout the evening and early morning hours. Around 5:00 a.m., we reconnect with the Department of Public Works (DPW) in both Leonia and Edgewater, and the Leonia Police Department (LPD) to finalize the decision. A primary consideration here is the safety of bus transportation to and from Edgewater. To avoid a premature call, the default position is to contact the community the morning of school (at around 5:30 - 6:00 a.m.) regarding any schedule change. However, if reports support an overwhelming, undeniable storm, we will make a decision and notify the school community the night before, as soon as possible.

Notifications: Following the decision, our website will be updated immediately, and the communication to our community begins. You should expect to receive a notification through:

• Voice Call or SMS Message through ParentSquare to phone numbers listed in the Genesis Parent Portal.
• Email through ParentSquare to the main email address listed in the Genesis Parent Portal.
• Live Feed updates on the district website.
• Notifications through our ParentSquare App.

Our ParentSquare portal makes it easy to send out multiple modes of communication, ensuring everyone gets the message. Visit our Inclement Weather page to learn more about your school's schedule for delayed openings and early dismissals.

Key Considerations: Each decision is a difficult one. Our goal is to keep our students, families, and staff safe while still providing an enriching day of learning. The decision is made based on the information available at the time of making the call, and that information is constantly changing.

Your Partnership: Families are encouraged to monitor the weather and plan for all scenarios, a full day, no school, a delayed opening, or an early dismissal. Having a "snow day plan" in place will make for a less hectic morning when faced with winter weather conditions. We also encourage you to check your Genesis account to ensure your contact information is correct so you can receive the necessary emergency notifications.

We appreciate your continued cooperation and partnership.

Wishing you a safe (and warm) winter,



Xanthy Karamanos, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools