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First and foremost, please know that Granite School District aims to keep schools open whenever possible. Snow storms are a reality in the Salt Lake Valley, and though winter weather may present challenges, school closures or delays are rare.

If you do not receive a notification of any kind of a school closure or delay, plan on school being open. You may always call 385.646.4280 for the status of your child’s school bus.

We trust parents to make the ultimate call when it comes to their child’s safety. Not all streets are plowed at the same time, and snow totals may differ from region to region. If you do not think it is safe to send or take your kids to school during inclement weather, please keep them home. School officials will be lenient regarding tardiness and absences during winter weather.

Considerations for School Closures 

Prior to and during a snowstorm we receive up-to-date reports on road conditions, bus transportation capability, and the status of our buildings. We will keep schools open if these reports indicate we can safely transport children, and open and operate our buildings.

Like any public service, people count on schools to remain open, and there are many services we provide beyond education:

• A majority of students in the district would remain home alone without supervision if their school had an unscheduled closure. Many families don’t have the luxury of adjusting work schedules on short notice.

• More than half of Granite School District students rely on their neighborhood school for breakfast and lunch. These meals are not simply convenient; they provide nutritional needs for kids who may otherwise go without them.

• A functioning school building provides warmth and safety in addition to classroom instruction.

The district also aims to open schools on time if at all possible. Granite’s geographical boundaries contain some of the busiest roadways in the Salt Lake Valley, which become especially congested during the morning commute. The regular bell schedule allows a single bus to complete high school/junior high routes and move on to elementary routes before the height of traffic congestion. Emergency late starts place high school and junior routes in the busiest road times, which can subsequently delay elementary routes even further. As such, late starts are not preferable because they are likely to make transportation delays even worse.

What if reports indicate significant difficulties?

If reports show substantial challenges, individual schools may decide to implement a late start to resolve the situation. The emergency late start schedule still counts as a full day of instruction, thus no make up day in the spring is needed.

If it appears a late start schedule would not alleviate conditions, affected schools will be closed. An emergency closure make up day is included in the calendar.

Parents will be notified as soon as possible should a late start or a full closure be implemented. Please ensure your contact information listed on school records is accurate. The district’s website and social media accounts will also post emergency closure information.