Assistant Superintendent Russell Leek and Brad Moll of Meyer Bus Lines Inc. keep a close eye on the skies when the forecast is for winter weather. Leek and Moll hit the roads before dawn to gauge conditions. "I drive the city streets and Brad checks the roads in the county," Leek said. "The snow route plan uses the route number, which is a 2-digit number on the side of the bus," Leek explained. "The bus number is a 3-digit number." Although snow routes are rarely used, the plan will be activated if low temperatures and heavy snowfall or ice cover remain on county roads for a period of several days. The plan relies on parents to get their children to the snow route bus stop, or to school. "It's always best for children to be in school as scheduled," Leek said, "and we make that our goal whenever it is possible to safely transport them from home and back again." "When weather conditions or emergencies occur and school is cancelled, the automated telephone service called School Messenger will be initiated and all parents will be called with a recorded voice message regarding the situation," Leek said. "In order to participate in the text alert service, you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages sent to your cell phone," Leek said.

PROGRAM EVALUATION: FOOD SERVICES - Russell Leek, Assistant Superintendent, highlighted portions of the Food Services Program Evaluation. He also gave a comparison of the number of breakfasts and lunches for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years.

"The district was able to offer this free food service program through grant funding from the Department of Health and Senior Services," said Assistant Superintendent Russell Leek.

"On this day, all new families can register every child at one time and in one location, instead of visiting the individual school buildings to enroll each child individually," said assistant superintendent Russell Leek. "If you provide services for new families, we ask that you pass along this information to them," Leek said.

"These are reasonably-priced policies that families may want to consider," said assistant superintendent Russell Leek.