Dear CCS Community, 

Carmel Clay Schools is planning to return to in-person learning at the regular time tomorrow, January 29. And yes, it is possible that tonight or tomorrow morning brings another change. Weather decisions are like Indiana winter itself, unpredictable and sometimes requiring a last-minute pivot.

If you are curious or frustrated by the process, we encourage you to read on and learn more about how these decisions are made. We believe transparency helps turn uncertainty into understanding. Each decision considers several factors, including wind chills, time of day, bus operations, and road and sidewalk conditions. These factors can vary across the district and change, especially during overnight hours.

Our first and most important priority is student safety. This includes students who walk to school, walk from the CHS parking lot, or wait at bus stops. Our responsibility is to ensure all students can arrive at school and return home safely.

Our second priority is in-person learning. While we are fortunate to qualify for asynchronous eLearning days without state penalty, we acknowledge and agree that our educators do their best work when students are physically present! 

Our third priority is timely communication with families. We understand how important advance notice is, but the timing of our decisions is always influenced by our top priorities of safety and remaining in person whenever possible. For example, today’s forecasted wind chill continued to drop, allowing us to confidently plan for a 2-hour delay. By early morning, however, wind chills remained dangerously low, and some buses experienced mechanical issues. Along with all Hamilton and Marion County schools, we transitioned to eLearning. We recognize that early-morning changes are difficult, especially for working families, but they often allow us the most accurate information before making a final call. 

The season looks set to remain cold. But as we adjust to the freezing temps and continue to clear sidewalks, we are planning for in-person learning tomorrow and want our students to be prepared. 

• Please bundle up! Regardless of how long your student may be outside, encourage them to wear hats, gloves, and scarves. If your student needs warm-weather clothing, please reach out to your school’s social worker or check our Community Resources. 
• Students should not climb on snow mounds or wait in the street at bus stops. Students may wait in the closest cleared area away from the street, and bus drivers will accommodate them. 
• Parents have the final say on whether it is safe to send their child to school. Please use School Dismissal Manager to report any absences and work with your student’s teacher to make up missed work.
• Be patient yet efficient. As a reminder, our transportation team will reach out if your bus is delayed more than 10 minutes. With anticipated increased carpooling, please have students bundle up before getting in the car and follow all staff instructions for exiting the vehicles.

We understand that every family is different, and these delays and cancellations affect everyone differently. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate these decisions.

Carmel Clay Schools