Who makes the decision about whether or not to close school?
The TLC CEO, COO, and/or School Senior Leadership is responsible for the final decision. They work closely with the TLC Administration to monitor state and local weather forecasts.
What time do you make the call?
Our goal is to make a final decision no later than 6:00 AM the day of if not earlier. While we know there is often an interest in having a decision the night before, a lot can change overnight. Whenever possible, parents/guardians will be informed of delayed starts and/or cancellations the evening prior, should the meteorological information we have at that time allow us to make these proactive decisions.
How is the decision made?
There are multiple factors used in deciding whether or not to close school. Marie Philip School supports students from more than 90 towns, so it is essential that we keep track of the current and predicted weather across the entire state of Massachusetts. MPS does not follow Framingham Public School District’s plan for snow day cancellations. Our first priority is the safety of our students and staff; this means monitoring the conditions of the roads and highways, as well as current temperatures, predicted accumulation and other important criteria.
Do you have delayed openings?
Marie Philip School does not generally support delayed openings. The reason for this is that our school enrolls students from many, many towns across the state, and the coordination, communication and organization of transportation would cause more disruption than benefit for the students and families and cab companies.
Will you dismiss early if a storm is unexpectedly heavy during the school day?
Again, due to MPS supporting students from all over the state, we infrequently support early dismissals. We also recognize that dismissing students early may disrupt family planning and could result in driving students home to empty houses. In the case that the predicted weather is for severe or dangerous conditions in the afternoon, MPS would likely decide to cancel in-person learning for the day.
What are my responsibilities as the parent/guardian?
The safety of your child is paramount. If you do not feel as though it is safe for your child to attend school, use your best judgment on whether he or she should attend and please reach out to your school’s teacher or principal. We encourage all parents/guardians to proactively make alternative arrangements for all pending inclement weather situations that may impact the school day.
How is the public notified?
Announcements about school closings and delays are posted as outlined below. Please be advised that, depending upon the severity of the storm, school and district administration offices may also be closed in addition to canceling classes for students.
- Marie Philip School Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MPSatTLC
- Text Communication
Local television stations, including: WCVB Channel 5, WBZ Boston Channel 4, WHDH Boston Channel 7, MyFoxBoston