Inclement Weather Information

Kingsport City Schools understands the importance of communicating important news and information to our students, families, faculty, and staff. To ensure we are reaching our immediate stakeholders and the Kingsport community, we have several methods to communicate any weather-related schedule changes.

Communications Resources

school messenger (opt-in)

Kingsport City Schools offers parent/school communication using the SchoolMessenger system. An automatic notification will go out to the phone, email, and text contacts for all KCS students (who have opted-in) in case of an emergency or school closing/delay.

Please ensure your child(ren)'s school has the most up-to-date contact information for this service to work efficiently.

kcs website (K12K.COM)

Announcements will be posted on the KCS homepage at www.k12k.com.

KCS social media

Announcements will be posted on the KCS Facebook Page, Instagram Account, Threads, and X Account. Be sure to follow us for other news, events, and information!

wcsk 90.3 FM radio

Listen Live on 90.3 FM The Voice of Kingsport City Schools!

Traditional media

Announcements will be made on local TV and radio stations.

Schedule Changes

cancellation or delay of school

The Board of Education and administrators are aware of the hardship that can be caused by an abrupt cancellation. Therefore, school will not be cancelled unless a significant safety risk has been created by unusual circumstances. Schools will be in regular session unless an announcement is made. If you opt-in to SchoolMessenger, our family/school communication system, you will be automatically notified of any schedule changes:

If a schedule change can be decided on the evening prior, every attempt will be made to make a decision/notification by 9 p.m. Otherwise, a decision will not be made/announced until the following morning.
If a schedule change is to be made in the morning , every attempt will be made to make a decision/notification by 5:20 a.m.
- Electronic notification (TV/radio, social media, email, text, website) by 5:30 a.m.
- Phone call via SchoolMessenger to families and staff starting at 5:45 a.m.

If the schedule is changed, you will hear one of the following announcements:

Kingsport City Schools will be closed today.
Kingsport City Schools will operate on a two-hour delay.
Kingsport City Schools will operate on an early dismissal schedule.
- Reference KCS school hours here.

The school district has the responsibility for deciding to open or close school. This means opening or not opening the buildings and having our employees report for duty. If parents believe that road or weather conditions are dangerous, they may keep their children home. Absences during these circumstances are EXCUSED and the students may make up the work missed.

NOTE: If Kingsport City Schools are closed or dismiss early due to inclement weather, after school activities and programs, including school-aged childcare (SACC) at Adams Elementary, Johnson Elementary, and Washington Elementary will be closed/cancelled as well. All ECLC students will follow elementary school dismissal times.

2-Hour Delay schedule start times:

➡ Pre-K, Intervention & ECLC: 10:30 a.m.
➡ Elementary Schools: 10:30 a.m.

➡ Middle Schools: 9:45 a.m.

➡ High School: 9:30 a.m. (singleton) or 9:45 a.m. (block)

early dismissal

For some emergencies, like snowstorms, school officials will send students home early. You will receive notification through SchoolMessenger, our parent/school communication system. Notifications will also be provided through the school district website at k12k.com, social media channels, the school district radio station WCSK 90.3 FM, and other local media outlets.

If there has been an early dismissal and your child has not been picked up, your child’s school will attempt to contact you. Please make sure you provide your school’s front office with the most up-to-date contact information so that we can easily reach you when necessary.

NOTE: If Kingsport City Schools are closed or dismiss early due to inclement weather, programs including school-aged childcare (SACC) at Adams Elementary, Johnson Elementary, and Washington Elementary will be closed/cancelled as well. All ECLC students will follow elementary school dismissal times.