I plan to introduce legislation to establish Coordinated School Closure Boards for Inclement Weather in school districts. This legislation addresses a coordination gap between public school districts and the nonpublic schools they serve with transportation, ensuring that closure and delay decisions during dangerous weather are made collaboratively, communicated clearly, and applied consistently.

Under current law, when a school district provides transportation for its own students, it's required to transport nonpublic school students, too. But there's no requirement that the two sides actually talk to each other when a storm rolls in. So, you end up with situations where a nonpublic school stays open, the district cancels transportation, and families are left scrambling at 6 a.m. with nowhere to turn. That's a problem we can fix.

My bill creates a group made up of the school district superintendent, the transportation director, a member of the school district’s buildings and grounds department, and administrators from the nonpublic schools in the district. When bad weather hits, the group collaboratively makes the call on transportation and, as it is now, the district’s decision is final, and applies to both public and nonpublic schools. No more conflicting announcements, no more confusion about who's open and who isn't.

Nonpublic schools still get to decide whether to hold classes without transportation services. That's their call.
The board also is required to meet before the school year starts to review and update emergency contacts, protocols, and set clear criteria for when a delay or closure is warranted. And when a weather decision is made, families, employees, and students are notified by 5:30 a.m.

This isn't a complicated bill. It just makes sure the people responsible for getting kids to school safely are part of the conversation before a weather crisis hits.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this practical legislation.