Subject: School Closure Notice – Thursday, March 12

Dear Helena Flats School Families and Staff,

Based on the best information currently available, and out of an abundance of caution, Helena Flats School will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, March 12. All after-school events, activities, and athletic practices are also canceled.

Local Conditions

This afternoon, the National Weather Service (NOAA) issued a Blizzard Conditions Warning for our area for tomorrow, Thursday, March 12, and is predicting a historic wind event, with a 100% chance of wind gusts exceeding 50+ mph. Additionally, the Flathead Electric CoOp has indicated there is an extremely high likelihood of widespread power outages during this storm.

After consulting with the National Weather Service, Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino has begun assembling the County Response Team and is recommending that all school districts across Flathead County close school tomorrow.

Community Safety is Top Priority

In making this decision, we also considered the lessons learned during the recent December wind and recent power outage events. Our schools are not equipped to operate without power and do not have backup generators.

The Flathead County Road Department will begin assessing area road conditions after daylight, which limits late start opportunities. A challenge also arises if power outages occur while students are in our buildings. Loss of electricity affects lighting, heat, communications, toilets, and in some cases, running water. Additionally, if emergency conditions require shelter-in-place measures, it can create unrealistic expectations for our schools and challenges for parents wishing to sign out their children.

While weather and wind events are inherently unpredictable, this decision reflects reasonable caution based on the best information we have and the recommendation of the Sheriff's Department and the National Weather Service.

Our intent is to provide advanced notice to allow families time to plan ahead for childcare and adjust schedules as needed. It also helps avoid early-morning confusion regarding school closure communications and transportation services.

Looking Ahead to Friday

We will continue to monitor weather conditions before making a decision about our school schedule for Friday, March 13.

We will follow our process of notifying families ASAP in the morning on Friday if the school schedule is impacted by the weather through text, email, and social media.

Families can find more information about the weather’s impact by referring to the following community preparedness resources:

Thank you for your understanding and support as we prioritize the safety of our students, families, and staff.

Sincerely,

Andy S. Maheras

HFS Superintendent

Helena Flats School District

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