Winter Operations

The Superintendent makes the final decision, based on road and weather reports gathered by the Transportation Department each morning.

Road and weather checks

Before the school day starts, three Transportation Department staff members check conditions in their assigned area:

• The southern part of the county
• The eastern part of the county (Flintstone/Oldtown)
• The western part of the county to the Garrett County line, and into Garrett County to Finzel

Each reports weather conditions, road surface conditions, road temperatures, and air temperatures to the Supervisor of Transportation.

Forecasts

The Supervisor reviews forecasts and radar from the National Weather Service, AccuWeather, The Weather Channel, and WeatherBug.

Coordination before wintry weather

When wintry weather is expected, the Transportation office may contact:

• Allegany County Roads, about start times for its road crews
• ACPS Operations, to evaluate conditions at school buildings
• Local school bus contractors, about their buses and lot conditions
• Nearby counties, especially Garrett County, for their assessment of conditions

County and state alerts take precedence over local area conditions.

The decision

The Supervisor of Transportation evaluates all conditions before 5:00 a.m. and contacts the Superintendent. If schools will be delayed or closed, the Supervisor notifies the Public Information Officer, who sends the announcement.

Delays, closings, and early dismissals are shared through:

• School Messenger phone calls, text messages, and emails
• The ACPS website, acpsmd.org
• ACPS social media: Facebook, Instagram, and X
• Local media outlets, including radio stations

Families registered for School Messenger at their school receive notifications automatically. Because a 2- or 3-hour delay can become a closure, please keep checking for updates throughout the morning.

Each type of decision has its own message and its own rules for buses, meals, activities, and staff. The School Messenger wording below is what families and staff will hear.

Snow Day: All Schools and Offices Closed

Message: "Good morning. Allegany County Public Schools are closed today. Today is a Snow Day. Thank you."

• No buses operate.
• Schools, the Central Office Building, and all ACPS facilities are closed.
• All school activities, day and evening, are canceled.
• All non-school activities in school buildings or on school grounds are canceled, including recreational programs, meetings, and special events.
• Central Office and 12-month staff work virtually.
• Designated essential employees report to work.

Regional Closure (Example: Mountain Ridge District)

Message: "Good morning. Only schools in the Mountain Ridge School District are closed today. Today is a [Snow Day or Virtual Learning Day] for the Mountain Ridge District. The Central Office opens on time. Thank you."

• Schools are closed in that district only. All other districts and the Central Office Building operate as normal.
• No buses operate in that district.
• All school activities, day and evening, in that district are canceled, along with non-school activities in that region.
• Students in the closed district receive an excused absence and do not need a note from a parent or guardian.
• On a virtual learning day for the district, teachers in that area may lead virtual instruction from home.
• Food service staff in that district do not report. Designated essential employees report to work.

Occasionally a single school closes. If an elementary school closes, middle and high school students who live in that elementary school's area are not transported by bus that day, and they also receive an excused absence.

Virtual Learning Day: All Schools and Offices Closed

Message: "Good morning. All schools and offices are closed today. It's a Virtual Learning Day for Allegany County Public Schools. Virtual Learning schedules and Schoology are available online at acpsmd.org. Thank you."

• No buses operate.
• Students follow their grade or school's Virtual Learning Schedule.
• Teachers, 12-month staff, and other school-based support staff work virtually.
• All school and non-school activities, day and evening, are canceled.
• Designated essential employees report to work.

2-Hour or 3-Hour Delay

Message: "Good morning. Allegany County Public Schools has a [2- or 3-]hour delay today. Thank you."

• Buses pick up students 2 or 3 hours later than usual.
• No morning Pre-K and no breakfast. Lunch is served.
• Schools follow a shortened class-period schedule.
• Morning field trips are canceled. Afternoon field trips go ahead if weather permits.
• Evening activities may take place as scheduled unless otherwise announced.
• Out-of-county travel for athletics, performances, and academic competitions is evaluated based on conditions on the route and at the site.
• The Central Office Building opens at the normal time, and designated essential employees report at the normal time.
• Teachers report 2 or 3 hours late, matching the delay.
• 12-month school-based administrators, supervisors, and secretarial staff, and non-essential Central Office employees, report on time or when it is safe to do so. Employees who cannot arrive at the announced time must contact their supervisor immediately.

A delay can still become a closure. See the Decision Timeline for the 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. deadlines.

2-Hour or 3-Hour Early Dismissal

Message: "Good morning/afternoon. Allegany County Public Schools will dismiss [2 or 3] hours early today. Thank you."

• Announced by 11:00 a.m.
• Buses take students home 2 or 3 hours earlier than usual. Lunch is served.
• Judy Center events and afternoon Pre-K are canceled.
• All afternoon and evening activities are canceled.
• Field trips and athletic trips are canceled. No trips depart after the announcement, and trips already out are recalled.
• On a 3-hour early dismissal, ACM special needs students dismiss at 10:30 a.m.
• Essential employees remain at their facility unless directed otherwise. Non-essential Central Office staff are dismissed at a time included in the announcement.

Weekend Activity Cancellations

Message: "Good morning. All ACPS activities planned for Saturday and Sunday are canceled or will close by 4:00 p.m."

• Announced by 7:00 a.m. that day, or the day before.
• All activities in schools and on school grounds are canceled.

ACPS does not have a bare roads policy. School buses may travel on snow-covered roads to some extent.

If a bus driver meets road conditions that make travel difficult, the driver pulls off in a safe area and radios the Transportation office. The office then contacts Allegany County Roads for assistance.

Schools may be delayed or closed, depending on the forecast, when either of these is expected:

• A sustained air temperature of 0°F or below
• A sustained wind chill of 15 below zero (−15°F) or colder

ACPS has three severe weather days (snow days) built into the calendar. On these days students, teachers, and staff are off, and the days are made up at the end of the school year.

If schools must close for more than three days, ACPS will use virtual learning days to keep students on track. When a virtual learning day is in effect, it is announced with the closing, and schedules are posted at acpsmd.org. ACPS releases its Inclement Weather Plan each school year.

The National Weather Service uses higher snow amounts for Allegany County than for most of Maryland. These alerts inform ACPS decisions, but they do not automatically delay or close schools.

Winter Storm Watch

Significant, hazardous winter weather is possible within 48 hours. It may not happen.

Winter Weather Advisory

Any amount of freezing rain, or 3–5 inches of snow and/or sleet, expected to cause significant inconvenience

Winter Storm Warning

Hazardous winter weather is occurring or about to occur: 6+ inches of snow/sleet in 12 hours or 8+ inches in 24 hours, ice heavy enough to damage trees or power lines, or a dangerous mix of snow, ice, and wind