Cancellation of sports games & practices

January 4, 2023

Dear Hornets:

This message will announce the cancellation of interscholastic games and the rescheduling of most practices for today, January 4, 2023, and will also outline possible approaches for tomorrow morning (January 5, 2023).
Current forecasts suggest that temperatures in Plattsburgh will not drop below freezing at any time tonight or tomorrow. But, temperatures may approach freezing in the after-dinner hours this evening, and road icing may be possible elsewhere in the county this evening. One district which we were scheduled to host tonight for a match has already cancelled, and I expect that others will soon follow suit. In keeping, all athletic games/matches for tonight are cancelled. Practices may still take place, so long as they are complete by 6p.m .. The revised athletic practice schedule for tonight is as follows:

Bowling: Match cancelled, no practice
Cheer: Match cancelled, practice 3-5p.m. in Duken Gym
Modified Girls’ Basketball (both teams): 3-4:15p.m. in SMS Gym
Modified Boys’ Basketball (both teams): 4:15-5:30p.m. in SMS Gym
Modified Boys’ Swim: 3-4p.m. in SMS Pool
Varsity Boys’ Swim: 4-5:30p.m. in SMS Pool
JV & Varsity Girls’ Basketball: 3-4:15p.m. inPHS Barker Gym
JV & Varsity Boys’ Basketball: 4:15-5:30p.m. in PHS Barker Gym
Indoor Track: 3-5p.m. in PHS Auxiliary Gym
Boys’ Hockey: 3:30-4:45p.m. at Ameri-Can North Sports Center

All other after school activities and meetings (including YMCA ‘after-care’) may proceed as scheduled.

No decision has been made about tomorrow. At this point, while some amount of freezing rain is forecast for parts of Clinton County, projected temperatures for Plattsburgh are well-above the freezing point and rain seems the most likely condition. But, as small deviations from the forecast could yield freezing rain, it seems prudent to review possible scenarios.

Outright school closure, which was already necessary once this year because of a snow event, will be announced via ParentSquare and certain local media outlets. The last such declaration was made the night prior to the closure, but such announcements would typically be made morning-of… generally before 6a.m.

A less-often utilized response is a delay. Typically, these involve 2-hour delays, with the expectation that conditions will improve over the morning hours. In such cases, all school opening timelines (including when students may be dropped off) are simply delayed by 2-hours. It is important that students not be dropped off earlier than 2-hours later than the typical threshold time, as there is unlikely to be supervision on school campuses. The same notification channels (ParentSquare, media outlets) are utilized when a delay is announced.

Again, despite a winter weather advisory for the broader region, morning temperatures are currently forecast between 36-37 degrees, making rain (and thus a regular school opening) the most likely scenario. But, should that situation change, this letter will have you better familiar with possible responses.

Best,

(signed)
Jay Lebrun
Superintendent of Schools