News Release

For more information, contact Jessie Haynes

jhaynes@beaumont.k12.tx.us; 409/617-5042

January 7, 2010

BISD crew to scour road conditions in wee morning hours

A crew of the Beaumont ISD emergency preparedness team will scour major bus routes during the wee hours of the morning to ascertain if roads are safe enough for school bus travels. The crew, made up of transportation and safety operation employees will drive main thoroughfares across the city of Beaumont between 4 and 5 a.m. By 5:15 a.m., they will report their findings of how the cold weather has impacted the roads and bridges to central office administrators. The team will especially look for icing conditions, ascertaining if today's precipitation will freeze the major by-ways for school bus routes.   By 5:30 a.m., the director of transportation, the assistant superintendent of operations and the superintendent of schools --Clifton Guillory, Terry Ingram and Carrol Thomas, respectively--will have teleconferenced to discuss school opening options.

Superintendent Thomas will make the final decision as to whether conditions warrant delayed opening, early dismissal or closure. The district's chief public information officer, Jessie Haynes, will be standing by to make an AlertNow call out to the home of every student and employee, as well as to the mainstream media. The call would reflect the superintendent's decision for a delayed opening, early dismissal or closure due to the inclement weather. If school is to open and close as scheduled, there will NOT be an AlertNow call to homes.

"We are staying tuned to weather conditions and realize the possibility of today's rain freezing to ice and slick the roads. The wind chill, the work of city road crews to make roads passable, the timing of the weather conditions will all be considered. The safety of the students will be the number one consideration, followed by our mission to educate students. As soon as our emergency preparedness team does it job in the morning, we will notify parents prior to 5:45 a.m. if there are to be any changes for BISD school openings due to inclement weather. In any case, our public information officer will confirm on the BISD website and with local media via text, email and telephone, if BISD schools will open and close as scheduled on Friday," Thomas said.

He further encourages parents to make sure their children bundle up with warm clothing through the remainder of the cold spell.