Bad weather is a part of the school year. Here’s how parents can find out whether the bad weather means their child’s school won’t open.

For the most current information on Santa Fe Public Schools’ bad-weather decisions, staff and parents are asked not to call school sites but are encouraged to watch television reports or listen to local radio stations.

Parents are asked and encouraged to evaluate weather on bad-weather days and make a decision about their own child’s attendance at school that day. Parents also may use their own discretion and pick up their children at any time during any school day, according to Santa Fe Public School policy.

When weather conditions require a change in the school-day schedule, the superintendent of schools will respond in one of four ways:

►Two-hour delay: Santa Fe Public Schools will announce a two-hour delay to the school day when weather creates hazardous road conditions. This announcement will be made as early as possible — even the evening before a school day — but no later than 7 a.m. that school day.

A delay means that buses will run two hours later than normal and school will start two hours later than normal start time.

Should a delay be called after 6 a.m., some buses might already be on their way to pick up children. Students already on the way to school by bus will continue on their way, and students waiting at bus stops will be picked up and taken to school. Once at school, students will be supervised until their parents arrive or until school starts.

After a snowstorm, school officials caution that icy conditions might prevail in the early morning, making it unsafe to run buses in outlying areas. Parents are asked to watch for news announcements to indicate whether bus service will be unavailable or will consist of running buses on paved areas only.

► Two-hour delay for outlying schools only: This includes Tesuque, El Dorado and Turquoise Trail elementary schools only. The same procedures and protocol for a general two-hour delay will be implemented for the staff and students at these three schools. Some secondary students who ride buses that originate in the outlying areas also will be delayed two hours — even though their school has opened on time. These students will be excused for their tardiness. The transportation office can let parents know which routes this delay will affect.

► Cancellation of school: After a two-hour delay has been announced and weather conditions have continued to deteriorate, the superintendent may call a cancellation of school.

Notice of school cancellation will be made as early as possible, but no later than 8 a.m.

In the event of school cancellation, all schools will be closed and time will be made up according to provisions in the school calendar.

► Early release: An early release of schools, a rarely used option, will be called in extreme weather conditions. Early release will be called no later than 11 a.m., and buses will begin picking up students at noon.

High-school and middle-school students will be picked up first by the public school buses on the early release days at noon. All high-school students will be dismissed at the early release time for bus students.

When high school and middle school bus routes are completed (usually 45 minutes), elementary students will be picked up. Elementary and middle school students who do not ride school buses will remain in regular classes until normal dismissal time or will be released to parents.

All after-school programs will be canceled on early release.

School principals may use their discretion for dismissing employees as long as student safety and supervision are not compromised.

Details: For information on snow delays and school cancellations, the general information number is 467-3541.