Emergency Communications

The following information provides the plans in the event that the Tuscaloosa City Schools have to close, dismiss early, or delay opening due to weather or any other unforeseen situation. The Superintendent makes the decision based on information from multiple sources up to and including the weather service, the Tuscaloosa Police Department, Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Director, and the Executive Director of Facilities.

We have three plans in place that we will use in case of a weather event or other emergency situation:

School Closing: If schools must be closed due to weather or any other such circumstance, we aim to have that decision made by 5:30 a.m. if not before. In the event of a school closing, we will inform parents and staff through the automated telephone calling system, our system website (www.tuscaloosacityschools.com), the system’s Facebook and Twitter pages, an email to all stakeholders, and through the local media sources.

When schools are closed, all schools and the Central Office are closed for students and employees.  All after-school activities or events will be cancelled.

School Delayed Opening: We will implement either a one or two-hour delayed opening plan. In the event of a delayed opening, all students and employees will report either one or two hours after their regular times.  In the event of a delayed opening, we will inform parents and staff through the automated telephone calling system, our system website (www.tuscaloosacityschools.com), the system’s Facebook and Twitter pages, an email to all stakeholders, and through the local media sources.

For example, if the system calls for a two-hour delayed opening, an employee who normally reports to work at 7:30 a.m. would report at 9:30 a.m.   A student who reports to the bus stop at 7:05 a.m. would report at 9:05 a.m.

Should a delayed opening take place, schools will not serve breakfast. Schools will resume their normal schedule with lunch being served at regular times. Dismissals will also be during the regular times.

It is important to maintain communications during a delayed opening in the event it must be changed to a school closing. 

School Early Dismissal: In the event that we must close schools early, we will inform parents and staff through the automated telephone calling system, our system website (www.tuscaloosacityschools.com), the system’s Facebook and Twitter pages, an email to all stakeholders, and through the local media sources. Decisions to dismiss early will typically provide a one hour notice unless circumstances dictate otherwise. 

In the event of an early dismissal, the dismissal order will be as follows:

• High Schools, The Alberta School of Performing Arts, Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools, Success Prep, S.T.A.R.S Academy and Brewer Porch will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.;
• Middle Schools (except Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools Middle) will dismiss at noon; and
• Elementary schools (minus Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools-Elementary and The Alberta School of Performing Arts) will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. 

Once the dismissal time is announced, the school dismissals will be in increments of thirty (30) minutes.  In the event of an early dismissal, all after-school events and activities will be cancelled. Employees will dismiss as soon as all students exit the building. 

In order to ensure that timely communication is effective, we ask parents and employees to do the following:

• Ensure that the system has current cell phone numbers and home numbers. We will use this information to provide automated phone calls and text messages.
• Monitor media sources and the system website during inclement weather.
• Have a plan to pick up your children from school or the bus stop during an early dismissal.