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Calendar & Schedules » Emergency Weather Information

Emergency Weather Information

Weather-Related School Changes at Portage Township Schools

At Portage Township Schools (PTS), student and staff safety is our top priority, especially during bad weather. Sometimes, this means we may need to delay school, dismiss early, or cancel school for the day. We encourage families to make a plan for these situations and talk to their child about what to do.


How We Make Decisions

Bad weather can be hard to predict. Here’s how we decide what action to take:

  • We watch the weather closely, especially during the winter.

  • We work with the City of Portage, Porter County, and our own PTS departments to check road safety, snow totals, and temperatures.

  • We talk with other school districts in Porter County since many students travel to special programs.

  • We consider safety first. If roads are safe, visibility is clear, and temperatures aren’t dangerous by 6:00 a.m., school will most likely stay open.


Types of Weather Events That May Change the School Day

  • Snow or Low Visibility: Decisions are often made in the morning but may be made the night before if a big storm is expected.

  • Extreme Cold or Wind Chill: We may call a 2-hour delay or close school if the cold is dangerous.

  • Freezing Rain/Sleet: These can be hard to predict. We check with local and school crews in the early morning to decide.

  • Severe Storms or Tornadoes: These may cause delays, cancellations, or delayed dismissals at the end of the day. We follow updates from the National Weather Service and local safety teams.


Types of Closings

2-Hour Delay:
When a delay is called, school starts 2 hours later than usual. Here are the delayed start times:

  • Portage High School – 9:30 a.m.

  • Willowcreek & Fegely Middle Schools – 10:25 a.m.

  • All Elementary Schools – 9:55 a.m.

Bus pick-ups will also be 2 hours later than usual. You can check pick-up times on the My Ride K-12 app.

If the weather doesn’t improve, the delay may turn into a full school cancellation.


Early Dismissal:
If a weather emergency happens during the school day, we may dismiss students early. We’ll try to give families at least 1.5 hours’ notice. Notices will go out through ParentSquare, our website, and social media.


School Closure:
If the weather is too dangerous, school will be canceled for the day. Students will be told how to complete their schoolwork from home. This may be:

  • A live e-learning day (Google Meet),

  • An independent work day, or

  • A make-up day later in the year.

All sports, events, and after-school activities are also canceled.


Delayed Dismissal:
If there’s severe weather at the end of the school day, we may keep students in the building until it’s safe. Parents will be notified when students are dismissed. You can check the My Ride K-12 app for new bus drop-off times.


How You’ll Be Notified

Families will be informed through ParentSquare by phone, text, or email. It’s important that your contact info is correct. If anything changes, contact your child’s school to update it.

You can also check for updates on:

  • The PTS website

  • Facebook and Instagram