Weather-related closures 

As in past years, schools will be closed when snow or poor road conditions make travel difficult or impossible. There will be no classes — in-person or virtual — on these snow days.

However, if there are more snow days used this winter than the academic calendar allows it may become necessary to use these days for virtual instruction. If the district does exceed its allotted number of snow days, families would be notified in advance that subsequent snow days will include virtual instruction. 

Weather-related delays

When morning weather conditions necessitate extra time for bus preparation, the district can use either a one-hour delay or a two-hour delay. Details and schedules can be found below:

One-hour delay

All schools begin one hour later than usual and dismiss at the regular time. 

• BCHS
  • Grades 9-12, 8:35 a.m.
• BCMS
  • Grades 6-8, 9 a.m.
• Elementary Schools
  • 10:10 a.m.

Two-hour delay

All schools begin two hours later than usual and dismiss at the regular time. 

• BCHS
  • Grades 9-12, 9:35 a.m.
• BCMS
  • Grades 6-8, 10 a.m.
• Elementary Schools
  • 11:10 a.m.

Additional details

• For both one-hour and two-hour delays, there would be no morning BOCES CTE program for high school students.
• If school is canceled or delayed, the Special Education and Student Services (SESS) Department will cancel all CSE meetings and will send a notice of rescheduled meetings to families who are impacted by these changes.

Weather-related early dismissal

If inclement weather requires the district to close school early, please note that students who usually walk to school will be prohibited from doing so. Walkers will need to be picked up from school. In addition, only students who are regularly scheduled to take the bus will be able to use district bus transportation. Please plan in advance and discuss with your child your family’s transportation plan if schools close early.

If your child attends School’s Out after school, please be sure to check with School’s Out as to whether they will remain open if afternoon or evening activities have been canceled.

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How BC communicates weather-related closures

Cancellations, delays or early dismissals are posted on the school district’s website, right on the homepage at www.bethlehemschools.org.

School closings are also announced on the following local TV and radio stations: Channel 6, Channel 9, NEWS10, Channel 13, FOX23, WGNA (107.7 FM), WGY (810 AM), WYJB (B95.5), WRVE (99.5 FM), as well as http://timesunion.com. We will also post closings and delays on the district’s Twitter (twitter.com/BethlehemCSD) page.

For district parents and staff, closing information will be sent directly to you via email using School Messenger. If you have opted in to receive SMS text messaging through School Messenger, you will also receive a text message.

You can check to see if you are signed up to receive text messages by texting “Y” to 67587.

• Parents who need to update their contact information should email District Registrar Melissa Haas at mhaas@bethlehemschools.org.
• Staff who need to update their contact information should contact Human Resources.

It is best to rely on more than one source of information when it comes to weather-related announcements. This is particularly true in situations that involve power outages, which can affect the district’s ability to send electronic notifications. Emergency preparedness agencies have advised that residents have access to a battery-powered radio so that they can receive information if other communication channels are unavailable.