Winter Weather Information
The safety and security of our students and staff is always our top priority and drives all decisions regarding inclement weather.
Please make sure your contact information is accurate in your Infinite Campus Parent Portal. This will help ensure you receive alerts and important messages from the school district through our mass notification system.
Inclement Weather Communication Methods
Fulton Public Schools utilizes the following methods to communicate important updates with families and the community.
When school is canceled, bus snow routes are in effect, or early dismissal is necessary, the district notifies families using the following communication methods:
- App Notification: Download the Fulton 58 Mobile App, we post all updates on the home screen.
- Text Message: District updates are sent from 573-347-6763.
- Email: You will receive emails from our Communications Office.
- Phone Call: Recorded phone calls from the district will come from the phone number 573-590-8000.
- District Website: Updates will be posted as a pop-up alert on our district website's homepage.
- Social Media: Follow the district on:
- Facebook: Fulton Public Schools
- Instagram: FPSHornets
- Local Television: The district will appear on the list of closings and cancellations on KRCG-TV 13, KOMU-TV 8, and KMIZ-TV 17.
Be sure to have multiple communication channels in place to receive important information from the school district. Our goal is to inform families as early as possible to accommodate schedules.
Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) Days
With moving our FHS Graduation a week earlier, Fulton Public Schools may need to utilize Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) days this year. More details about AMI days will be shared by building principals. Traditional snow days will be used first, with AMI/virtual learning days implemented thereafter.
If you have any questions about AMI Days, please contact your child’s building principal.
Making the Decision
One of the hardest decisions a superintendent makes is whether or not to call off school due to the weather. Multiple factors determine the decision, but it comes down to an informed, subjective judgment call. Though it might seem like a simple task, we follow a process each time the threat of inclement weather is imminent.
Considerations prior to closing school:
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Road conditions, both main roads and secondary roads
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Bus stop safety
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Buses running on time, delays
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Bus turnarounds, the likelihood of accidents or breakdowns
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Temperatures
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Forecast
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Timing of precipitation
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Condition of school buildings, buses, and parking lots at the time of arrival or dismissal
The district consults with:
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Fulton Public Schools Transportation Department
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Callaway County Emergency Management Office
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St. Louis National Weather Service Office
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Neighboring School Districts
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State, County, and City Road Departments
Your family’s safety and timely updates remain our top priorities. If you, as a parent/guardian, feel it is unsafe for your student(s) to attend school in person, please know that this decision remains yours.
As we look ahead, we ask all parents/guardians:
- Create a plan for unexpected school closures and share the plan with your student(s). School cancellations due to weather are unavoidable and will happen at some point.
- Please watch the above communication methods for updates to school closures.
Fulton Public Schools asks parents/guardians not to call our buildings/schools or news stations about the cancellation of school. We will not respond to questions submitted on social media asking if we plan to have school.
Early Dismissal due to Inclement Weather
Occasionally, school will be dismissed early due to bad weather. If an early dismissal is required an announcement will be made that school will be dismissed a specific number of hours early from the building’s normal dismissal time. School buses will run beginning at the dismissal time announced on those days if school is canceled midday.
Families will receive notification via the communication methods listed above with the specific number of hours students will be dismissed early.
*Please note, a phone call will not be initiated for an early release to prevent our school lines from being overwhelmed with callbacks.
Buses Running on Snow Routes
Snow routes have been established for those days when transportation is reasonable, yet some areas are not passable. Snow routes can be found on our district website.
Families will receive notification via the communication methods listed above.