Augusta USD 402 Announces Early Student Dismissal

School districts in the Wichita area are dismissing students early on Friday due to the threat of severe weather moving into the region. The decision comes as storms are predicted to arrive around typical dismissal times, prompting officials to prioritize student and staff safety by adjusting schedules and canceling after-school activities.

Augusta USD 402 announced that middle school and high school students will be dismissed at 1 p.m., followed by elementary school students at 1:15 p.m. The district confirmed that buses will run at the early dismissal times and that all afternoon activities are canceled, including the after-school program.

In El Dorado, USD 490, middle school and high school students will be dismissed at 1:05 p.m., with elementary students following at 1:15 p.m. The district also canceled all afternoon and evening activities, citing the expected arrival of storms during the usual dismissal window.

Other districts in the area are taking similar precautions. Arkansas City and Winfield have both announced early dismissals at 2 p.m., with Winfield additionally canceling all after-school practices. In Douglass, the junior varsity softball game scheduled for Friday night has been canceled due to the weather threat.

Haysville Public Schools stated that while they are monitoring conditions, students may not be dismissed at the regular end of the day if weather conditions are deemed unsafe. The district emphasized that families would be contacted with updated plans if dismissal is delayed, reiterating that student and staff safety remains the top priority.

Clearwater USD 264 is also monitoring the situation and has indicated it would use storm shelters to ensure student safety if conditions become unsafe at dismissal. Several districts noted that bus routes would continue to operate on the adjusted schedules to transport students home safely.

Officials across multiple districts stressed that the decisions were made proactively to avoid potential risks associated with severe weather, including the possibility of storms coinciding with school dismissal times. All affected districts urged families to stay informed through official communication channels for any further updates.