Weather Announcement

Guidelines

Living in Minnesota, we can expect weather challenges during the year, and occasionally these result in disruption to school. We know adjustments to the school day can cause challenges for our families and staff, and we make school closure decisions with high care and consideration.

School closure decisions will be made in partnership with Sartell-St. Stephen and Sauk Rapids-Rice school districts. When school closures occur, partner school districts each have their own plans for at-home learning and make-up days depending on their school district policies and resources.

To learn more about our weather protocols, watch the video below with Superintendent Putnam:

Decision-Making Guidelines

St. Cloud Area School District will rely on the National Weather Service/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association meteorologists for weather forecasts, and both transportation teams and county officials for information related to road conditions.

Cold-weather closures will occur at temperatures of 35 degrees below zero (either base or wind chill). The city of St. Cloud will be the location of the temperature determination. If a temperature is predicted to rise about -35° by 9:30 a.m., a two-hour late start may be considered.

At-Home Learning

In the event of inclement weather, the first five weather-related closings in St. Cloud Area Schools will be E-Learning Days provided there is no widespread interruption of power and/or internet service that would interfere with at-home learning. If further weather-related school closings occur, schools will be closed for students and staff and make-up time will be determined by the Superintendent in consultation with the School Board.

E-Learning Day Resources for Families

Communication

In the event we close schools, announcements for St. Cloud Area School District 742 will be sent to families by an automated phone message. In addition, information will be shared with radio stations and news services, and announcements will appear on the district’s website and social media sites. In the case of delayed starts or school closings, we will notify you as soon as possible.

If we are able to make decisions about a school closure the evening prior, we will notify you by 9 p.m. If you do not hear from us by 9 p.m., no decisions will be communicated that day. Morning communication will be made between 5:30 – 6:30 a.m.

Note: In the event of a school closure, meals will not be served. Additionally, all activities and practices will be canceled. In the unlikely event of a scheduled Section or State meet, Superintendents of the impacted districts will determine how to proceed.

Minnesota weather can be difficult to predict, and we ask families to prepare for weather-related emergencies. Please plan for childcare arrangements in the event of a school closing, late start or early dismissal. Ultimately, parents or guardians may make the final decision whether their child should attend school during severe weather. Provided families contact us, this absence would be excused.

Emergency Closing Procedures

In an effort to continue student learning in the event of weather-related school closings, St. Cloud Area Schools will continue using E-Learning Days during the 2024-2025 school year for inclement weather day closings pursuant to Minn. Stat. §120A.414 as follows:

The first two weather-related closings will be full school closing days;
The next five weather-related closings will generally be E-Learning Days as long as there is no interruption of power and/or internet service that would interfere with distance learning. At the discretion of the Superintendent, a full school closing day may be called instead if the timing or circumstances surrounding the weather event compromises the ability to deliver effective instruction as an E-Learning Day;
Additional weather-related school closing days will be determined by the Superintendent and make-up time for students and/or staff will be determined by the Superintendent in consultation with the School Board.
During a Weather Related E-Learning Day, students and licensed staff will have the following expectations:
- Student Expectations
  - In the event of a cancelled school day that requires an E-Learning Day, families will be informed by an automated message that St. Cloud School District 742 is activating a E-Learning Day at least two hours prior to the start of the regular school day.
- Preschool
  - Preschool students will access and complete a series of preassigned learning activities that will be made available to students in home packets or on the ISD 742 website when predicted weather conditions make school closing likely.
- K-5 Students
  - Students in grades K-5 will access assignments on student devices via the Learning Management System (LMS) or complete a series of preassigned learning activities that will be made available to students in home packets or on the ISD 742 website if devices were not sent home with students. Licensed staff will post learning activities to LMS by 9:00 AM on the day of an E-Learning Day.
- Secondary Students
  - Students in grades 6 -12 will access assignments on student devices via the Learning Management System (LMS). Licensed staff will post learning activities on LMS by 10:00 AM on the day of a E-Learning Day.
  - Licensed staff members will be available during student contact hours to answer student questions and provide guidance via email and the LMS. Accommodations for students who receive special education and EL services will be provided. If additional accommodations are needed, they can be addressed by teaching staff when the student returns to school.
If a weather-related closing is not a E-Learning Day, all school district buildings will be closed and school is canceled. All student activities/practices, Community Education, Adult Basic Education, night school/evening classes at McKinley-ALC, Early Childhood Education classes and Kids Connection are also canceled for that day.
In the event of a late start, all a.m. and p.m. preschool classes as well as Kids Connection are canceled for the day. In regard to Early Childhood programming, all Early Childhood Family Education morning classes are canceled and Special Education Birth to 3 services will start two hours late.
In the event of an early dismissal, all after-school activities, practices, and evening classes, including Community Education, Early Childhood Family Education, Adult Basic Education, and night school/evening classes at McKinley-ALC will be canceled. KIDSTOP weather-related information can be found at: https://www.bgcmn.org/kidstop/weather-closing-policy

Radio and TV Announcements

Announcements regarding school closings, late starts, or early dismissals relative to St. Cloud Area School District 742 District will be made on the following radio and television stations:

Station

WJON Radio: 1240 AM
KCLD Radio: 104.7 FM
KNSI Radio: 1450 AM
KVSC Radio: 88.1 FM
KKJM Radio: 92.9 AM
WCCO Radio: 830 AM
WCCO TV: Channel 4
KSTP TV: Channel 5
KARE 11 TV: Channel 11
KMSP TV:Channel 9
St. Cloud Somali Radio and TV

Skylert (School Messenger System)

Skylert (School Messenger System) will also be used to send automated messages to all staff and parents/students, to announce school closings, late starts, and early dismissals due to inclement weather conditions.

To optimize success in receiving communications on all channels, follow these steps:

Be sure your personal information in Skyward is current.
Save any email address with isd742.org as a “safe sender.”
Add 320.370.8000 to your phone contact list.
Go to go.schoolmessenger.com and create an account using the email that is in Skyward. All messages can be viewed in one place with no spam filters.
Download the free School Messenger app to your mobile device.

In addition to these radio and television outlets, weather alerts are announced on the St. Cloud Times website at www.sctimes.com. You may also tune into the area’s cable education access, Channel 179, District 742’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/isd742.org, St. Cloud Area Schools@ISD742 on X, schooldistrict742 on Instagram or the District 742 website at www.isd742.org for up-to-the-minute closing and/or late start/early dismissal reports.