Emergency Dismissal

Emergency Early Dismissal Plan

At the beginning of each school year, parents will be asked to complete an Emergency Early Dismissal Plan Form.  This form provides the school with specific instructions about where a child is to go in the event of an emergency early school dismissal.  If parents choose to have their child follow normal dismissal procedures and ride the bus home, children may not ride a bus other than their own. Some parents indicate that the child is to ride the bus home and report to a particular neighbor’s house.  Please remember that if schools have an emergency closing, Playcenters will not be open.

From time to time there are emergency events, such as a broken water pump, when Sparks is the only school to close. In such an event, Sparks Elementary is required by Baltimore County Board policy to have direct verbal contact with each parent before children can be released from school. We will attempt to make this contact by phone and also by email. In order for a child to be sent home on the bus, we must have verbal or email confirmation from his/her parent. Otherwise children will remain at school until parents pick them up.

Please do not call the school for information about emergency closings.  It is important that our phone lines remain open for incoming phone calls from our central office during these times.


Inclement Weather Procedures

School Closing Policies

*Please note Sparks Elementary cannot call parents concerning school closings and individual plans for children as there are several hundred students in the school. Emergency closings may also mean, the phone lines are not in service. 

When it is decided that schools are to be closed for inclement weather, announcements will be made by local television and radio stations.  Students and parents are therefore, asked to please not call the school for this information.  These announcements are made for the cancellation of school, as well as for delayed openings and early dismissals.

HEREFORD WEATHER ZONE – Sparks is a Hereford Weather Zone school.  In case of inclement weather that would necessitate a delayed opening or early dismissal of school, parents are asked to pay particular attention to radio and TV announcements which might indicate information that would ONLY pertain to Baltimore County Schools in the Hereford Zone.


School Closing Policies:


Delayed Openings and Early Dismissals

Media Announcements:  The following message will be given to television and radio stations:

 “All Baltimore County Public Schools closed.” – (Sparks is closed).

On occasion schools in the Hereford zone will be closed while other schools in Baltimore County remain open.

”Baltimore County Hereford Zone Only Schools closed.” (Sparks is closed).

One hour delay – for either all Baltimore County Public Schools or for Hereford Zone only – Sparks will open at 9:45 a.m.

Two hour delay – for either all Baltimore County Public Schools or for Hereford Zone only – Sparks will open at 10:45 a.m.


One Hour Early Dismissal

Students in grades kindergarten – 12 in all schools will be dismissed one hour earlier than normal. Dismissal time for Sparks will be 2:30 p.m.

LUNCHES WILL BE SERVED TO STUDENTS AS USUAL.

Media Announcements:  The following message will be given to television and radio stations: “All Baltimore County Public Schools will close one hour earlier than normal closing time.”


Two Hour Early Dismissal
Students in grades K-12 in all schools will be dismissed two hours earlier than normal.   Dismissal time for Sparks will be at 1:30 p.m.

Lunches:  Lunches will be served to all students.

Media Announcements:  The following message will be given to television and radio stations: “All Baltimore County Public Schools will close two hours earlier than the normal closing time." 


Three Hour Early Dismissal
Same procedure as Two-Hour Closing.  Dismissal time for Sparks will be 12:30 p.m.  LUNCHES WILL BE SERVED.