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Emergency Alerts & Closings

District 47 utilizes the Blackboard notification system to alert families to an emergency situation or to cancel school due to inclement weather. Blackboard is linked to Synergy (ParentVue), our current student database management system, so in the event of an emergency you will receive alerts to all devices that are currently on file with your child’s school. Messages may be sent via phone call, text message, email and even push notification (if you have downloaded the District 47 mobile app and have elected to receive notifications). In the spring, you will be asked to update your contact information in ParentVue during online registration/enrollment. Should your address or phone number change after that point, you will be instructed to notify your child’s school office, as building secretaries ensure that your child’s record gets updated in both ParentVue and Blackboard.   
 

School Closings

We realize how important it is for parents to be aware of school closings as soon as possible and every effort is made to make a decision prior to 5:00 a.m.  If the decision is made to close school, you will receive an alert from Blackboard to all devices on file. REMINDER:  If you receive a message via phone call, please listen to the message in its entirety; there is no need to return the call.  Besides Blackboard notifications, school closing announcements will be posted on:  

No communication means school will remain open. There will be no remote learning if school is closed due to weather conditions. Instead, we would make up the day at the end of the year in one of the five scheduled emergency days on the school calendar.
 

Winter Weather

Despite winter weather conditions, it is our goal to keep schools open when possible to ensure we meet the needs of all students and avoid a disruption to teaching and learning.

Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the winter weather. All students should wear a warm jacket, gloves/mittens and a hat. For elementary students: Boots and snow pants are optional but should be worn if your child intends to play outside in the snow. All students (elementary and middle) will go outside for recess according to the following guidelines*:   

  • 15 degrees or warmer: unlimited time outside
  • 0-15 degrees: maximum of 20 minutes outside
  • Below 0 degrees: remain indoors
*District 47 schools refer to ”feels like” temperatures according to the Weather Channel app.