Weather-Related School Closings

Communication

The decision to close or alter school will be made as early as possible. The willard School District will work to communicate via email to families if there is a chance of cancellation in the days leading up to a possible storm. If school is canceled or virtual due to severe weather conditions, our Communications Department will use an automated system to call, email, and text staff and families. Typically, this automated call will occur before 5:30 a.m. on the day of the closure. 

Staff and families are asked to save the phone number 417-742-2584 (automated phone calls) and short text code 53291 (emergency text messages) and 417-361-5488 (outreach text messages) into their cell phones as "Willard Public Schools." 

While it might seem logical to use the same number for mass text and voice messages, federal regulations require separate numbers for each type of communication.

We also ask families to review their contact information in Infinite Campus (Parent Portal) so we can ensure they are receiving updates as needed. If you do not already receive these messages, contact the district office at 417-742-2584 to update your information. 

In addition, announcements about postponements or cancelations will be made on Willard School District's social media pages and website, as well as on local news media. 

Late Start

If necessary, the district will implement its Late Start plan. All nine school buildings will open to students at 9:00 a.m. Buses will run on a modified schedule, roughly three hours behind schedule. Elementary and intermediate schools will begin at 11:45 a.m. and the Middle School and High School will begin at 11:00 a.m. All schools will end at their regularly scheduled time. 

Please note the following important details:

• Breakfast Service: We will not be serving breakfast on late start days. Please ensure that your child has had a nutritious breakfast prior to coming to school. 
• Lunch Service: Lunch will be provided as normal. 
• TigerTALES: There will be no morning TigerTALES on late start days. Afternoon TigerTALES will be provided on late start days. Regular TigerTALES programming will resume on days with normal start times. 
• Morning Activities: There will be no morning activities on late start days.
• No Late Start on Mondays: We will not implement late start on Mondays due to our early out schedules.
• School Transportation:
  • Bus Times: Bus pick up times will be delayed by two hours from normal pick up times. 
  • Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE): Morning ECSE classes will not meet on late start days. Afternoon ECSE will be in session with adjusted times for bus transportation. If your student utilizes afternoon ECSE bus transportation, you will be contacted with updated times. 
  • Pioneers: Bus transportation for Pioneers will not be provided on late start days.

The decision to implement a late start will be made the night prior to a potential late start. 

AMI Days

Alternate Methods of Instruction (AMI) is a flexible form of instruction that will vary based on grade level. In the event of an AMI day, students will complete assigned coursework from teachers remotely using school Chromebooks (Middle and High School) and/or provided paper packets (Elementary and Intermediate Schools). Student participation on AMI days is required for all students. Students will be expected to engage in the instruction (method depends on grade level and will be communicated by teachers) and complete any assignments. For grades PK-12, attendance will be based on assignment completion. 

Snow Days

In the event school is canceled due to inclement weather, Willard Public Schools will specify in its communication whether it is a Snow Day or an AMI Day. If the day is labeled as a snow day, there will be no learning conducted.

TigerTALES

If school is dismissed early because of weather, afternoon TigerTALES will not be available. If school is canceled entirely because of weather, Willard Schools does not offer any childcare.