When winter weather rolls into the Big Country, it often brings a little uncertainty with it. Forecasts shift. Temperatures drop. Roads can look very different from one hour to the next. Across Wylie ISD, families and staff start asking the same simple question: What’s the plan?
The answer is reassuring. Wylie ISD is closely monitoring conditions and putting student safety first, as we always do.
As colder weather approaches, district leaders are watching the forecast carefully and staying in constant communication with local and regional partners. Superintendent Joey Light recently shared with KTXS that preparation is a collaborative effort that begins well before winter weather arrives.
“We meet with city officials, Dyess Air Force Base, and surrounding school districts to talk through the forecast and put a game plan together,” Light said. “That helps us stay ahead of changing conditions.”
Those conversations also include coordination with Education Service Center Region 14, neighboring school districts, and transportation partners like TxDOT. Comparing forecasts, sharing real-time information, and looking at road conditions together helps ensure decisions are thoughtful, coordinated, and based on what is actually happening across the area.
Clear and timely communication is another key part of Wylie ISD’s weather response. Light emphasized that families receive updates through multiple platforms so information is shared quickly and broadly.
“We communicate with our families through text messages, our app, and email,” he said. “We try to cover all the bases.”
Road conditions remain one of the most important factors in any weather-related decision, especially when it comes to buses and student drivers. District leaders begin checking conditions early in the morning, often well before sunrise, to assess safety across different parts of the county.
“Everyone is up around 3:30 or 4 a.m. driving roads and comparing notes,” Light said. “One side of the county can look very different from another, and we’ve seen that before.”
That early-morning work includes Wylie ISD’s transportation team. In a recent interview with KTAB, Transportation Director Ricky Bacon explained that road conditions are evaluated hour by hour, starting in the early morning hours.
“Our number one goal is to get the kids to school safely and return them home safely,” Bacon said. “That’s what drives every decision we make.”
Sharing information early also allows staff who arrive before students, including bus drivers and cafeteria teams, to make safe and informed decisions.
“We want to share information as early as we can so staff who need to arrive early have time to plan,” Light said.
Wylie ISD will continue monitoring weather conditions closely and will notify families of any changes through its communication platforms. Until families are told otherwise, school will continue as scheduled.
Families can review the district’s inclement weather procedures at any time by visiting
wyliebulldogs.org/page/inclement-weather-procedures
Winter weather may be unpredictable, but Wylie ISD’s commitment to preparation, communication, and care remains steady. Through early mornings, changing forecasts, and careful coordination, we are doing what we do best as a community.
Watching the weather, together.
And that’s one more reason it’s great to be a Wylie Bulldog.
Wylie ISD has been featured in the below videos from our community TV affiliates: