Inclement weather can be not only a pain but also a question of safety for many families, especially families with student drivers. However, when the weather gets dicey, Camas School District (CSD) has policies in place to ensure students remain safe on the commute to school when it is in session. 

In the days before the morning of forecasted wintry weather, CSD Transportation Director Laura Nowland consults with meteorologists covering Washington and Oregon to determine what kind of weather the district needs to watch out for and when they need to be paying attention.

On the morning of inclement weather or predicted inclement weather, the snow patrol is sent out between 3:30 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. to check the streets for snow, ice and other potential threats.

“[They check] district-wide, but the areas we watch for the most closely are Livingston Mountain and Prune Hill,” CSD Communications Director Doreen McKercher said. 

If schools will be closed, either for a late start or a snow day, the superintendent is notified. Then, the process is preceded by a notification of the staff at 5:00 am, and the notification of families through ParentSquare at 6:00 a.m. 

“[A late-start is called when] we think the weather is going to warm up or improve enough to make the commute into school safe,” McKercher said.

Late-start schedules run exactly two hours behind a normal day, and snow routes for the buses are usually in place.

“I think [late starts are] important because sometimes the most dangerous part of the school day is when you’re driving to school,” CHS junior Anna Guptill said. “And since the weather can change so fast, it could be safe later, and then you don’t have to miss another day of school.”

Typically, if it is obvious that the weather will not improve by the time late-start commutes occur, a full snow day will be called. However, there are some days when there is not a clear solution. On those days, people tend to have questions.

“There have definitely been times where it was snowing in Livingston but then there was literally nothing at my house,” Juliette Murrow, a CHS junior said. 

In those cases, there is information regarding snow routes and weather closures on CSD’s inclement weather webpage. The snow routes are usually designed for more difficult-to-navigate areas, such as Livingston Mountain or on country roads. Additionally, the district office can be contacted with any questions.

“I’m on communications and I will field any questions or phone calls that will come in,” McKercher said.