Northshore School District’s buses aren’t the only “well-oiled machines” in the area.

When it comes to making crucial decisions about school closures or delays — or if and when those buses will roll — when inclement weather hits the region, the district superintendent and other officials are “raring to go,” said Leanna Albrecht, Northshore School District communications director.

“It’s a well-thought-out process when we kick into gear,” said Albrecht, noting that by following www.schoolreport.org, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather forecast and media Web sites, coupled with the school-district transportation department’s reports, they make the call as to what the schedule will be like each day. Decisions may be made the night before or by 5:30-6 a.m.; crews are often assessing the roads by 3:30 a.m.

Last year, there were three snow days, Albrecht said; make-up days are added to the end of the school year.

“It’s all about safety. Our buses transport 10,000 students twice a day. We ask, ‘Can the buses make it through?’” she added. In total, the district has a fleet of about 100 buses that tackle Northshore’s main and rural roads and many hills.

According to Dan Vaught, executive director of support services, he’s been involved in making many weather-related decisions in his 23 years with the district.

“We had years when we had no problems. And we had years when we were out of school for a week at a time,” he said.

Albrecht and others on the decision-making crew are up and ready to spring into action by about 5 a.m. “We’re waiting for that call,” she said about how the weather will dictate how her day will start.

If schools will be closed or schedules delayed for the day, Albrecht will get the word out via the School Messenger system, which sends phone calls in English and Spanish to about 12,500 families and 1,500 staff members. Information is also posted on the district’s Web site (www.nsd.org), via television stations and at www.gov.link.org/storm. By phone, the district information line is (425) 408-6001.

Overall, there are about 19,000 students in the four high schools, seven junior high schools and 22 elementary schools in the Northshore area. (The district started using School Messenger last year; they also utilize the system for special announcements and major emergencies.)

If no schedule change information is posted, schools and buses are on their regular schedules, according to the district site.

Vaught said that it’s a challenge for all involved as the weather reports roll in each day. They just try to be careful and “make the best decision we can.”

“I have a definite respect for meteorologists and their abilities,” he said.