Little girl turns around to smile as kids in front of her board a school bus

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Looking for information not posted on this page? Contact the RRPS Transportation Department at (505) 338-0078 or email the staff at DOST@rrps.net

Riding a School Bus & Inclement Weather

Rio Rancho doesn't often see feet of snow, but we sometimes do see enough snow or weather issues to cause a weather delay, early release or school closure. When that happens, the Transportation Department will ensure your child makes it home safely if they typically ride a school bus to and from school. Here is some more information on inclement weather as it relates to school bus transportation.

  • The decision to implement an abbreviated day schedule will be made by the Superintendent of Rio Rancho Public Schools. Information is gathered through the coordinated efforts of many people such as the DOST Executive Director and state, county, and city weather and street departments. Road conditions and the ability of school buses to transport students safely to and from school are the basis of the information.

  • The decision to institute an abbreviated schedule will be made and announced through the news media prior to the start of the school day. In the event that weather conditions worsen and it is necessary to close schools for the entire day, the decision and announcement will be made no later than 9 am.

  • The abbreviated day schedule, or school delay, is a shortened school day that begins two (2) hours later than the regular bell schedule but ends at the regular time. Pick up times at school bus stops will be two hours later than regularly scheduled.

Decision to Implement an Abbreviate Schedule

The decision to implement an abbreviated day schedule requires the coordinated efforts of many people. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sue Cleveland works with other staff members, the Rio Rancho Police Department, and the Department of Student Transportation (DOST) to gather information on weather and road conditions throughout Rio Rancho.  This information is used to determine whether our school buses can safely deliver students to school and whether staff, parents, and student drivers can safely reach our campuses. It is not an exact science: conditions can vary widely in different parts of town and sometimes conditions change after a decision has been made.

Dr. Cleveland makes the final decision to implement an abbreviated day schedule or cancellation of school. In the very rare instances she is not available, the decision is made by the Chief Operations Officer or the Chief Academic Officer (the Superintendent's deputies).

It is recommended that families have a plan in place for school weather delays and closures, as well as other emergencies.

What is an abbreviated day schedule?

The abbreviated day schedule is a shortened school day which begins two hours later than the regular schedule but ends at the regular time.  Bus schedules are also delayed two hours.  The most common use of the abbreviated day schedule occurs when severe weather causes street conditions that would endanger the safety of students on their way to school. Notification is usually made by 5:30 a.m. Should the complete cancellation of school be necessary, notification is usually given by 7:30 a.m.  

While schools have different "bell schedules", most schools on an abbreviated day schedule will utilize the following instructional times:

  • Pre-school (Shining Stars): No morning classes; Afternoon classes on a 30 minute delay beginning at 12:35 PM

  • Elementary Schools (except Colinas del Norte. Ernest Stapleton, and Puesta del Sol): 

    11:20 AM – 3:50 PM

  • Colinas del Norte, Ernest Stapleton, and Puesta Del Sol Elementary: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM 

  • Middle Schools: 10:40 AM – 3:10 PM 

  • High Schools: 9:20 AM – 1:50 PM

  • Desert Pathways: 9:20 AM – 1:55 PM

  • Independence High School: 9:40 AM – 2:15 PM 

  • Rio Rancho Cyber Academy:  9:50 AM – 1:30 PM

Early Dismissal:  

If severe weather conditions materialize during the school day, the decision for an “early dismissal” will be made by 11:30 a.m. in order to arrange for school buses to arrive at your schools prior to normal dismissal time. The most efficient schedule for most school buses after 11:30 a.m. is to complete their preschool runs and to begin the “three-tiered” schedule for that particular day.

Snow Day

If an emergency condition is site specific (e.g., power outage), that school site may be the only one placed on an abbreviated schedule. 

How are parents notified?

Parents will be directly notified by email and phone through the district's mass notification (robo-call) system.  The information will also be posted to the district website, social media, and other media outlets such as TV stations and radio stations.  Do not rely solely on the media for your information.  The district's mass notification system and website should be your primary source for the correct information.

Please avoid calling your student's school or the district office if at all possible, since staffing will be limited at best (employees have the same challenges getting to schools in bad weather as parents and students). 

PARENTS: Please make sure that your contact information (especially email addresses and home/cell phone numbers) have been updated in your child’s school record so that our school staff and phone notification system are able to reach the correct person in the case of emergencies or for attendance calls. For more information about the Emergency Notification System, click here.

S.A.F.E. before- and after-school program:

  • In the event of a delayed school schedule due to inclement weather, the S.A.F.E. program will not operate the before-school portion of the program, but will operate as normal during the afterschool portion of the program.

  • In the event of an early release school schedule due to inclement weather, the school will notify parents to pick up their children and the S.A.F.E. Program will not operate if school is dismissed early.

  • In the event of school cancellation, neither the before- or after-school program will operate.