The weather is constantly monitored by the Operations Department to ensure that our students are safe while they are on our buses and in our school buildings. We have emergency plans in place and weather emergency drills are a part of the educational process at LDCSS.
Inclement Weather Rules
In the event that the wind chill is below 20°F, the heat index is above 100°F, or if it is raining, the LDCSS school bus fleet is directed to run inclement weather routes. The purpose of the inclement weather route is to reduce the child’s exposure to extreme temperatures and rain. So that students and parents may arrive at their bus stop in a timely manner, they can see if buses are running an inclement weather route by checking the LDCSS website home page where a notification will appear or by calling the LDCSS School Bus Hotline at (931) 300-2684. The student’s responsibility on inclement weather routes is as follows: In the morning, the student remains in the protection of their home. They should be standing in the doorway or near a window wherever they can best see the school bus approaching. As soon as the student sees the school bus approaching, they must immediately leave their home and walk quickly to their assigned bus stop or to their inclement weather bus stop. Our drivers do not know which students will be attending school on a particular day, so it is imperative that the students are at or moving to the bus stop when the school bus is approaching. This is to ensure that the driver sees the student. The bus will not stop, honk the horn, and wait for the student. In the afternoon, the bus drivers will alter their routes as they determine appropriate and attempt to drop off the student closer to their home. We do not stop at every home. It is not possible to provide an inclement weather bus stop for every student in Montgomery County because it is not physically possible (the home sits well off the road, is located in the woods, or is located at a place where the bus cannot turn around). In these instances, parents are required to make other arrangements – such as driving the child to the bus stop and waiting in the car until the bus arrives. Please note that inclement weather routes only apply to regular education “to and from” school transportation services. Special education routes and after school program transportation use their specified stop location.