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Welcome to the new GC website!

The new district and school websites, powered by ParentSquare’s Smart Sites, feature improved navigation, a streamlined layout consistent across all sites, and a user-friendly design to better serve our entire community. They also seamlessly integrate with ParentSquare, the district’s communication platform.

Although the new website has a redesigned look, most of the website components and menus are the same!

2 days ago

Gates Chili Central School District

Together we teach and inspire excellence for all learners

Schools

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  2. Emergency closings

Emergency closings

Emergency closures and delays

At Gates Chili Central School District, the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. When severe weather or other emergencies occur, the district may delay the start of school, dismiss early, or close schools entirely to ensure the well-being of our community. These decisions are made with careful consideration of weather forecasts, road conditions, and input from local emergency officials.

Weather-related closures, particularly during winter months, are based on temperature and wind chill thresholds that could pose safety risks to students. Generally, schools may close when:

  • Wind chills reach -25°F or lower, based on National Weather Service guidelines.
  • Hazardous road conditions make travel unsafe for buses and families.
  • Severe weather warnings, such as blizzards or ice storms, impact the ability to operate safely.

To keep families informed, we use multiple communication channels, including ParentSquare, automated phone calls, emails, text messages, social media, and local news outlets. It is essential for families to keep their contact information updated in ParentSquare to ensure they receive timely and accurate notifications about closures and delays.

Below, you will find details about how closures and delays are communicated, what to expect during a schedule change, and how after-school activities may be affected. We encourage all families to review this information and have a plan in place for emergency schedule changes.

  • Notification Time: Families will be notified by 6 a.m. via phone call, text message, and email. If no message is received, schools will operate on their regular schedule.

    Information Channels: Closure and delay details will be:

    • Posted on the District Website
    • Shared on official social media accounts
    • Communicated to local media outlets

    After-School Activities: Cancellations for after-school and evening programs will be clearly communicated through the same channels.

  • Two-hour delay: School start times will be postponed by two hours. Morning prekindergarten and BOCES programs may be affected, and breakfast services might be adjusted.

    Early dismissal: Should conditions necessitate sending students home early, families will be informed promptly. It's essential to have updated emergency contact information and a contingency plan for such situations.

    After-school and evening activities: If it becomes necessary to cancel afternoon and evening activities, all district campuses and buildings will be closed, including sporting events, field house and performing arts center activities, club meetings, Continuing Education classes, etc. This also means that all late bus runs will be canceled for the day.

  • All Gates Chili Central School District staff will receive updates via their Gates Chili email, phone calls, and text messages.

  • Families are urged not to call or visit the school during an incident to keep communication lines open for emergency responders and to ensure student safety.

    Avoid contacting students directly during emergencies to prevent distractions and ensure they remain focused on staff instructions.