At Covington Independent Public Schools, we value both learning and safety, and thus, decisions regarding school closings are made with deliberation and care. Timely communication with our families is always a priority, but especially important in emergency school closing situations. As soon as a decision is made, students and families will be notified through our One Call system. In addition, the information will be posted on the homepage of this website and on the district’s Facebook page and Twitter feed. Further, local television and radio stations broadcast announcements.
Please follow us on our social media sites for up-to-date information:
Website: covington.kyschools.us
Facebook: Covington Independent Public Schools
NTI vs Snow Days
Depending on the situation, Covington Independent Public Schools will either call for a Snow Day or NTI Day. Please note the difference: Snow Day - There are no in-person classes and no Non-Traditional Instruction. (Snow days, in most cases, will have to be made up) NTI Day - Non-Traditional Instruction Day, is a day during which kids learn in nontraditional ways - particularly on devices. This is not a day off. Parents/students should receive information on what to do during NTI days from the school the student attends.
How Decision Is Made
District personnel take multiple measures to ensure that our decision is the best one for our students and staff. These factors include:
- Information on road conditions from transportation staff and the police. We must consider the most dangerous roads in the district. Even if your street looks clear, travel elsewhere in the district may be dangerous. We must also consider that some high school students drive to school.
- Weather predictions from the National Weather Service.
- Temperature and wind chill. Please remember that many of our students walk to school and some must wait outside for the bus.
- Building conditions (such as whether we have electricity and heat).
- What other school districts are doing.
We also share information with other local districts and check whether they are opening or closing. After this process is complete, staff makes a recommendation to the superintendent, who make the final decision about delaying, closing, or dismissing school.
Wind Chill
On particularly cold mornings, the district continuously monitors the National Weather Service.
There are two scenarios that come from the weather service: a Wind Chill Advisory and a Wind
Chill Warning. According to the National Weather Service:
- Wind Chill Advisory: Wind chills between -10 and -24 degrees and at least a wind of 10 MPH or
more
- Wind Chill Warning: Wind Chill -25 degrees and below with at least a wind of 10 MPH or more.
When the National Weather Service issues a wind chill warning for Covington for the time the school day begins, the district will make a decision to close schools. It is quite likely we will make this type of decision on the morning of the day in question as it is hard to predict what the wind chill will be the night before. The district will likely be open if there is a Wind Chill Advisory for this area.
Delays
If schools open on a delayed schedule:
- Bus pick-up will be delayed accordingly. For example, if schools open on a one-hour delay, bus pick-up times will also be delayed by an hour.
Cancellations
When school is cancelled:
- Classes at James E. Biggs Early Childhood Education Center also are cancelled.
- After-school activities are cancelled. Please check with the athletic department or with coaches to determine if games or practices are cancelled.
Early Dismissal
If schools are dismissed early:
- After-school activities, classes, and programs—including Community Learning Center, tutoring programs, and Adult Education classes—will be cancelled. Check with your child's school to see if the early dismissal will affect evening competitions.
Make-up Days
Decisions about making up the time missed will be made on a case-by-case basis in accordance with state guidelines.
Students will have to make up missed days before school ends for the year. However, the Board of Education does have the authority to adjust the school year calendar by reducing student days as long as the calendar meets all Kentucky Department of Education requirements for attendance.