Urgent Alert Communications and Inclement Weather Procedures

Ottumwa Schools uses various resources to get pertinent information to parents and the community. If school is delayed, canceled, or there are other changes to the schedule, this information is shared through the following sources:

More information about the Ottumwa Community School District Inclement Weather Procedures can be found on our website: ottumwaschools.com/closings 

Our Emergency Alert System provides important updates about school closures, weather delays, and emergencies. All Ottumwa Schools families and staff should receive these alerts when they are issued.

With our integration of ParentSquare, some individuals may receive notifications unexpectedly. If you received this message and are unsure why, a family may have listed you as an emergency contact for their child. 

Individuals listed as emergency contacts may receive Urgent Alerts for school delays, cancellations, or emergencies. These alerts override notification preferences to ensure timely delivery.

We encourage families to review their contact information and emergency contacts in PowerSchool.

If you are not receiving school notifications, please verify your phone number in PowerSchool. For assistance, contact your building secretary.

Ottumwa Community Schools will test its emergency notification system on Wednesday, October 21, at 6:00 pm. We want to ensure our families and students are informed of school cancellations due to inclement weather or emergencies in our school community. The annual test of our automatic notification system ensures Ottumwa Community Schools has accurate contact information for families and students. A phone message, text, and email will be sent to our Ottumwa Community Schools families; in advance, please verify that your phone numbers and contact information are accurate in the PowerSchool portal. 

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our communication channels up-to-date and for your commitment to the safety and well-being of our school community.