by Dennis Dalman
A network of watchers will keep a close eye on winter weather for the sake of the safety of school students by implementing emergency school closings when weather turns nasty.
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The network includes the public schools of Sartell-St. Stephen (District 748), St. Cloud (District 742) and Sauk Rapids-Rice (District 47). School officials will work closely with city and county officials to obtain up-to-the-minute, local weather data. That information will include local weather forecasts, as well as updated forecasts from the National Weather Service, the Weather Channel and an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Such information will include road conditions, forecasts, alerts, watches and warnings.
Bradley Bergstrom, the superintendent for the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district, explained the details of how the network will function.
“Minnesota weather can be difficult to predict,” he noted. “It’s essential parents or guardians anticipate and prepare in advance for the potential of school closings, late school starts, full-day cancellations or early dismissals.”
What can contribute to decisions that affect schools are heavy snowfalls, ice storms and strong winds, or a combination thereof. Extreme cold and fog can be just as dangerous. The “extreme cold threshold,” Bergstrom said, is 35-below zero (air temperature and/or windchill). The forecasted temperature for St. Cloud will be used to make emergency decisions for all three school districts, Bergstrom noted.
Emergency notices
Superintendents from all three districts will announce school closings or late starts by 9 p.m. the night before the anticipated severe weather. Any announcements will be made by way of local radio stations and other news services as soon as the weather information becomes available.
Bergstrom emphasized if school closings, late starts or early dismissals are announced for one school district, those who hear that news should know the same emergency notices will apply to all schools within all three districts, with very few exceptions for certain programs.
When an emergency morning closing or late start is necessary, every effort will be made to announce that decision by 5:30 a.m.
In the case of early dismissal or closing, such activities as Adult Basic Education, Early Childhood classes and Area Learning Center will typically be cancelled.
KIDSTOP
KIDSTOP programs will adhere to the following rules:
Early dismissal: If a school is dismissed early due to severe weather, all KIDSTOPs/Clubs will remain open until 4 p.m.
After-school cancellations: If after-school activities are cancelled for the day, KIDSTOP will remain open until 6 p.m.
School cancellations due to snow: If school is cancelled for the entire day due to severe weather, all KIDSTOP programs will not be open that day.
Cancellations because of extreme cold: Only some KIDSTOP programs will remain open. Oak Ridge KIDSTOP will stay open in the Sartell-St. Stephen district; Madison and Oak Hill KIDSTOPS will remain open in the St. Cloud district; and Mississippi Heights KIDSTOP will be open in the Sauk Rapids district.
Registered KIDSTOP students, in case of closings, can attend any of those programs that are allowed to remain open in the districts in which they live.
Rice Kids Club
Rice Kids Club has the following emergency procedures for registered Rice Kids Club students:
Early dismissal: Rice Kids Club will remain open until 4 p.m.
After-school activities cancellation: If after-school activities are cancelled for the day, Rice Kids Club will remain open until 6 p.m.
Cancellations due to snow: If school is cancelled for the entire day, Rice Kids Club will not be open.
Cancellations due to extreme cold: If school is cancelled for the day because of extremely low temperatures, Rice Kids Club will remain open in the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District.
If there are questions or comments, contact Bradley Bergstrom at 320-258-1809 or 507-440-0496.
