Johnson City Schools is aware of the implications of opening school during less than perfect weather conditions and of the delaying or closing of school when poor weather conditions exist or are predicted. Our district serves students within an area whose transportation system has difficulty operating efficiently when the road and/or temperature conditions are not safe. Because some Johnson City Schools open doors as early as 7 a.m. school buses begin picking up students at 6:25 a.m. Occasionally weather conditions worsen quickly thus requiring a later decision. Parents need to be aware of this possibility and plan accordingly. The safety of students, staff, and parents remains the top consideration.
If school is canceled for snow, does that mean that it will be a remote day for students?
No. If school is canceled or delayed due to inclement weather, both remote learners and in-person learners will follow the same schedule. Since inclement weather could force families to lose power or other essential services, snow days will apply for all students and faculty.
How does Johnson City Schools decide when to close schools due to inclement weather?
When weather events are occurring, or have occurred, the school system gathers information from many sources. The Superintendent is in constant contact with Johnson City transit officials as they drive bus routes through neighborhoods and school zones. The school system consults with the National Weather Service regarding up-to-the-minute forecasts and conditions. School administrators talk to maintenance and custodial staff members to determine the condition of school campus roads and parking lots. Once all information is collected, the Superintendent makes the final decision.
Why aren’t schedule changes always announced the night before?
Every attempt is made to announce school schedule changes as soon as possible. There have been times when the forecast the night before does not develop as reported. The timing of the decision remains secondary to the safety issues.
How do I find out if Johnson City Schools will have a change of schedule?
Johnson City Schools will notify families of closures on school websites, district social media accounts (@JCityTNSchools), through the Johnson City Schools App, through the district’s emergency notification system, SchoolMessenger and Bloomz. We will also inform local media outlets of our schedule change to broadcast.
During a two-hour delay, when will the bus pick-up my student and what time will school start?
During a two-hour delay, buses will begin their routes two hours later. If your student is normally picked up at 7 am, they will be picked up at 9 am. The school start times are as follows for a two-hour delay:
Science Hill High School
The school day begins at 9:40 a.m. during a two-hour delay.
Liberty Bell Middle School
The school day begins at 9:40 a.m. during a two-hour delay.
Indian Trail Middle School
The school day begins at 9:40 a.m. during a two-hour delay.
Elementary Schools
The school day begins at 10:15 a.m. during a two-hour delay.
Will students have to make-up snow days?
Johnson City Schools has two snow days built into the 2022-2023 calendar. They are Monday, February 13, 2023, and Monday, April 10, 2023. We will update the community with make-up plans as soon as possible if we miss more than two snow days.