Dear Somers and Lakeside School Families and Staff,
Based on the best information currently available, and out of an abundance of caution, Somers and Lakeside Schools will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, March 12. All after-school events, activities, and athletic practices are also canceled tomorrow.
This afternoon, the National Weather Service (NOAA) issued a Blizzard Conditions Warning for our area for tomorrow, Thursday, March 12 and is predicting a historic wind event, similar to last December, with a 100% chance of wind gusts exceeding 50 mph. In addition, Flathead Electric has indicated there is an extremely high likelihood of widespread power outages during this storm.
After consulting with the National Weather Service, Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino has begun assembling the County Response Team and is recommending all school districts across Flathead County close school tomorrow.
In making this decision, we also considered the lessons learned during the recent December wind event. Our schools have limited ability to operate without power and do not have backup generators.
The Flathead County Road Department will begin assessing area road conditions after daylight, which limits late start opportunities. A challenge also arises if power outages occur while students are in our buildings. Loss of electricity affects lighting, heat, communications, and in some cases running water. Additionally, if emergency conditions require shelter-in-place measures, it can create unrealistic expectations for our schools and challenges for parents wishing to sign out their children.
While weather and wind events are inherently unpredictable, this decision reflects reasonable caution based on the best information we have and the recommendation of the Sheriff's Department. As families please do your part to be safe out there and limit travel to emergency needs, thank you!
Our intent is to provide advanced notice to allow families time to plan ahead for childcare and adjust schedules as needed. It also helps avoid early-morning confusion regarding school closure communications and transportation services. Additionally, Superintendent Alex Ator will be at the Somers Middle School at 8:15 am if anyone needs a safe place to be throughout the day. Lunch and Breakfast will not be served.
We will continue to monitor weather conditions before making a decision about our school schedules for Friday, March 13. But the wind is supposed to come down later Thursday evening.
We will follow our process of notifying families by 6 AM on Friday if the school schedule is impacted by the weather through text, email, social media, and phone call.
Families can find more information about the weather’s impact by referring to the following community preparedness resources:
Thank you for your understanding and support as we prioritize the safety of our students, families, and staff.
Alex Ator
Superintendent