Unpredictable Georgia winters underscore the importance of being familiar with GCPS procedures for inclement weather. Here’s how the school system handles school cancellations:

• GCPS schools and facilities may close in the event of hazardous weather or other emergencies which present threats to the safety of students, staff, or school property.
  
  
• The superintendent makes the decision about school closing based on a cross-divisional and cross-agency effort, with information from public safety officials, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, county officials, and the state Department of Transportation. In addition, when inclement weather is an issue, members of the GCPS Facilities and Operations team head out as early as 3:30 or 4 a.m. to drive roads around the county and assess road conditions. The school system’s Transportation staff ensures that buses are operable. (Extreme cold can cause operational problems for diesel buses.) Facilities are checked in the early hours, and GCPS works with power providers, as needed. Local school principals gather information for the leadership team about specific school conditions.
  
  
• It’s more likely for school to be cancelled in the early morning— due to dangerous road conditions that formed overnight— than for school to let out early because bad weather is moving in. Should severe weather move into the area during the day, plans to cancel classes will be announced on metro-Atlanta radio and TV stations before school is dismissed. The school system immediately notifies all major radio and television stations in the Atlanta area. In addition, the information is announced on GCPS TV and posted on the system’s website, Twitter, and GCPS’ Facebook page.
  
  
• As a rule, the decision to cancel school is made before 6 a.m. The school system immediately notifies all major radio and television stations in the Atlanta area. In addition, the information is announced on GCPS TV and posted on the system’s website, Twitter, and GCPS’ Facebook page.
  
  
• If schools are closed, 12-month employees should report to work as soon as it is safe and possible for them to do so, unless told otherwise. If a 12-month employee believes the roads are unsafe for travel to work, the employee should notify his or her supervisor immediately. The employee will be expected to take personal leave or vacation for any portion of the workday missed.

Check the Gwinnett County Public Schools web site for specific closings.