School Delays & Cancellations
Inclement weather can sometimes impact the operation of our schools, particularly in the wintertime. When that happens, the district follows distinct procedures and schedules, as outlined below.
Please read these procedures carefully and refer to the guidelines below for more details for both in-person and remote students.
The District makes decisions regarding closures and delays in consultation with the municipality's Public Works Department, Police Department, and others. As a parent, if you choose not to follow the District's plan regarding inclement weather, please note that you have the authority to keep your child at home for an excused absence whenever there are weather concerns.
2-Hour Delay
In the event of a 2-Hour Delay with a Modified Kindergarten, the following will take place:
Bethel Park School District students in grades 1-12 will follow the 2-Hour Delay schedule for instruction. Those schedules can be found here.
-
- Bethel Park High School (9:25 a.m. to 2:28 p.m.)
- Independence Middle School (9:24 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.)
- Neil Armstrong Middle School (10:05 a.m. to 3:02 p.m.)
- Elementary Schools (11:20 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
The Modified Kindergarten Schedule for a 2-hour delay:
-
- AM students: 11:20 a.m. until 1 p.m.
- PM students: 2 p.m. until 3:40 p.m.
If conditions worsen unexpectedly and we need to close school for in-person instruction after a 2-Hour Delay is called, all students will attend school remotely following the 2-Hour Delay schedule.
Full Day Cancellation of In-Person Instruction
If conditions require a full-day closure for in-person instruction, our ability to transition to remote learning fairly seamlessly can help us avoid making up lost class time later in the year. It is crucial, however, to understand the various options the district has at its disposal and the criteria it uses when making its determinations.
Remote Learning Days (RLDs)
Remote Learning Days Attendance Procedures
Emergency School Closure/Snow Day
Emergency School Closures (ESC)—or "snow days," as they have long been known when they happen in the wintertime—are increasingly rare but may become necessary if there is an unexpected reason to close our schools, such as inclement weather, a broken pipe, a community-wide power outage, or other facilities-related issues.
During an ESC, students will not attend virtual teaching sessions, and their only "assignments" are to unplug, go outside if conditions permit, and HAVE FUN!
During an ESC, students will not attend virtual teaching sessions, and their only "assignments" are to unplug, go outside if conditions permit, and HAVE FUN!
We also encourage students who can help shovel their parents' driveways and sidewalks and those of their neighbors who can't do it themselves.
How Does the District Determine When to Use a Remote Instruction Day or a Snow Day?
If the district determines in advance that inclement weather is very likely or imminent, remote instruction could be declared along with detailed instructions on the teachers’ expectations and procedures. A Snow Day will likely be announced when the inclement weather is unexpected or much more voluminous or treacherous than expected, and the school district determines that it cannot guarantee that every Bethel Park School District student can receive a quality education for that day(s). In those rare instances, no classwork will be assigned.
Please do not hesitate to contact your building principal with any additional questions regarding RLDs and Snow Days.
Please do not hesitate to contact your building principal with any additional questions regarding RLDs and Snow Days.
Communicating a School Delay or Cancellation
Television Stations:
When the weather is bad, you can find the most up-to-date list of closings & delays on the websites of our local television stations, KDKA-TV (CBS), WPXI-TV (NBC) and WTAE-TV.
Social Media:
In addition to the ParentSquare school-to-home communication system and the local television stations, you can find the most up-to-date list of delays and cancellations on Bethel Park's social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
In addition to the ParentSquare school-to-home communication system and the local television stations, you can find the most up-to-date list of delays and cancellations on Bethel Park's social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Not Receiving Alerts?
There are three different groups that need to receive emergency messages from BPSD. They include District Families, District Employees and Non-District Employees.
All three groups follow slightly different processes to receive messages.
Please fill out the form that best describes your relationship to Bethel Park School District to ensure that you will receive alerts.
This group includes Bethel Park students and their immediate families.
This group includes Bethel Park employees.
This group includes people who work in Bethel Park schools but not for the district. It includes groups like food service employees, substitute teachers, crossing guards, therapists, etc.
Transportation Procedures During Delays and Cancellations
Click here to learn more about the district's transportation procedures during emergency delays or cancellations.
Click here to learn more about the district's transportation procedures during emergency delays or cancellations.
Building Contacts
Independence Middle School
Email the Principal
412.854.8677
412.854.8677
Neil Armstrong Middle School
412.854.8751
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
412.854.8522
George Washington Elementary School
Email the Principal
Email the Principal
412.854.8546