Inclement Weather Information

Cancellation, delayed opening, and/or early dismissal information

Whenever inclement weather is forecast, Marlborough Public Schools communicates directly with the Marlborough Police Department and the Marlborough Department of Public Works and obtains information on the conditions of the roads in the city.

Be assured that safety is central to all decisions affecting students, and that none of these three city departments ever knows exactly how the weather will turn out at the time the decision about school is made.

Emergency Notification 

In the event that school schedules must be changed because of inclement weather or safety conditions, all attempts will be made to notify school families by telephone/e-mail via the school messenger prior to 6 a.m. Additionally, any closings, delays or early dismissals due to inclement weather will be posted on the homepage of this website, www.mps-edu.org and the MPS mobile app, as well as being shared with local media outlets, as soon as possible after the decision is made.
 
The following radio and television stations also will be used to provide this notification:

  • WSRS 96.1 FM Radio Worcester

  • WBZ Television Boston Channel 4

  • WCVB Television Boston Channel 5

  • WHDH Television Boston Channel 7

  • FOX NEWS - (Comcast) 6 (Verizon) Channel 8

  • WMCT - Channel 98 (Comcast) Channel 34 (Verizon)

School Cancellation

Should inclement weather conditions warrant the cancellation of school, the above-noted venues will carry this notification.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to monitor broadcast stations or the district website and MPS mobile app in the event that a proposed delay may, in fact, become a cancellation as a weather system moves through our area.  Parents/guardians of afternoon preschool students would be notified, though  the school messenger if classes were canceled due to an early dismissal.

In the event that weather conditions warrant the cancellation of the pre-school afternoon sessions, the decision to cancel will be made at 10 a.m. Notification will be made via the above-listed venues. Parents/guardians should be aware of the possibility of cancellation.

Radio and TV will list school cancellations as Marlborough or Marlborough Public Schools and not individual school names.

Delayed Opening

In the event that a delay in the opening of school is necessary, the school district will also use the school messenger system, the district website page and the MPS mobile app, and the venues listed above to announce the delay. If a delay occurs:

  • Morning preschool classes will be canceled.

  • All-day preschool will start at 11 a.m.

  • Afternoon preschool classes will begin at the normal time.

  • For all K-12 students, the starting time will be adjusted according to the length of the expected delay; buses will be delayed the length of time of the delay and No breakfast will be available.

  • Dismissal times will remain the same as a regular school day.

  • For specific Early Childhood Center schedules, see the ECC Web page.

Important: If a delayed opening is announced, please continue to stay tuned to your radio or television. When checking the district webpage, please be sure to refresh your computer screen to receive accurate information.

Early Dismissal - For Inclimate Weather

Early dismissal requires extensive coordination between parents/guardians and school. If weather conditions and safety issues warrant early dismissal, notification will be made over the radio and television stations listed above and by the school messenger and MPS mobile app. We ask that parents/guardians be sure that children know what they should do in the event a parent/guardian is not home when schools must dismiss early.  Early dismissal times for inclement weather and other urgent situations are: 

  • 11:30 a.m. - Marlborough High School

  • 11:30 a.m. - Whitcomb Middle School (grades 5-8)

  • 11:00 a.m. - Early Childhood Center (No afternoon preschool classes)

  • 12:15 p.m. - Jaworek, Kane and Richer elementary schools (grades K-4)

Special Education Transportation will be delayed or canceled in the same manner as that for other students unless the student is individually notified of another adjustment.

Finally, although it is necessary that a procedure for emergency conditions exists, we encourage each parent/guardian to take responsibility to ensure the safety of his or her own child. School district decisions will be based on the welfare and safety of all children in the school system. If you, as the parent/guardian, believe that your child should stay home due to inclement weather conditions in your own neighborhood, please exercise your prerogative to keep your child at home.