Emergency Notification Procedures

When the Superintendent or his designee determines that a condition exists that warrants a school closing, delayed opening, or early dismissal, parents, faculty, and staff will be notified through ParentSquare. Information can also be obtained by viewing the district website, listening to TV and radio stations, or calling a school Emergency Telephone Number.

ParentSquare is an emergency notification system that allows the district to contact all parents, faculty, and staff by phone, e-mail, and/or text message in a short period of time.

The district website will display emergency announcements in a pop-up box when visiting the page.

Radio Stations: FM: 97.5 (WALK) 98.3 (WKJY) 102.3 (WBAB) 106.1 (WBLI) AM: 1010 (WINS) 1100 (WHLI)

TV Channels: Optimum: 12 (News12 Long Island), Network: 5 (Fox)

Emergency Telephone Numbers: If emergency conditions prevail, every attempt will be made to activate a taped message on the school emergency number listed below:

E.M. Baker School: 441-4100
John F. Kennedy School: 441-4200
Lakeville School: 441-4300
PreK and Lakeville Kindergarten at Parkville: 441-4350
Saddle Rock School: 441-4400
Richard S. Sherman - Great Neck North Middle School: 441-4500
Great Neck South Middle School: 441-4600
John L. Miller - Great Neck North High School: 441-4700
William A. Shine - Great Neck South High School: 441-4800
Village School: 441-4900
S.E.A.L. Program: 441-4960
Community Education: 441-4949

Emergency Plans and Drill Procedures

A District-Wide Comprehensive Safety Plan and Building-Level Safety Plans are in use and updated annually. At least once a year, each school conducts a test of its emergency plan, including transportation and communication procedures. Tests are done in cooperation with local emergency management officials, when possible. Parents/guardians will be informed in writing at least one week prior to such drills. Students and staff receive information about the school’s procedures each year.

School Closing Procedures

Emergency School Closings are made by the Superintendent based on police reports on road conditions from local villages and Nassau County, area weather reports and local weather conditions, checks of road conditions by school personnel, and recommendations of the bus company serving the district. The decision is made by 6 a.m.

All bus transportation is canceled for students attending nonpublic schools if the Great Neck Public Schools are closed. This includes students attending private, parochial, BOCES, and other special schools outside the area.

Early Dismissal Procedures

Early Dismissals are considered when there is a weather forecast predicting weather conditions that may result in traffic problems at regular school dismissal times. The time of day an alert is announced and the availability of school buses will determine whether early dismissal is possible.

Although a regular order of dismissal (high schools, middle schools, elementary schools) will take place, every effort will be made to set up an earlier bus schedule. This will allow additional time to transport high school and middle school students and have the buses arrive at the elementary schools at the regular dismissal time.

In the event of an early dismissal, a ParentLink Notification will be sent to all parents; specific information regarding release times will be posted on the district Web site. Parents should have a contingency plan in place in the event of an early dismissal. Please note that if an early dismissal occurs, the PM Pre-K and PM Fun for Fours programs will be cancelled (see Parkville School & John F. Kennedy School websites for additional information).

Each nonpublic school must make its own decision about an early dismissal. Bus service will depend on availability of drivers and dismissal time requested by schools. The Transportation Office of the Great Neck Public Schools (441-4060) will coordinate bus arrangements for the North Shore Hebrew Academy.

Delayed Opening Procedures

Delayed Openings delay the opening of school by two hours. The delayed opening schedule is as follows:

Elementary Schools: 11:00 a.m.
Middle Schools: 10:20 a.m.
North High School: 10:00 a.m.
South High School: 9:59 a.m.
Village School: 10:40 a.m.

A delayed school opening means bus schedules will also be delayed two hours. For example, if your child’s bus is normally scheduled to arrive at 7:54 a.m., a 2-hour delay will change it to 9:54 a.m. The breakfast program will not be available when there is a delayed opening. A delayed opening is subject to change if the weather and/or road conditions remain hazardous. The Superintendent retains the option to issue a subsequent order directing a school closing when the potential for a hazardous situation exists.

In This Section

Emergency Notification Procedures

Emergency Plans and Drill Procedures

School Closing Procedures

Early Dismissal Procedures

Delayed Opening Procedures

Links & Resources