Severe Weather

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Severe Weather



In This Section Core Academics and Instruction Health and Safety Enrichment Resources Family Engagement Parent Advisory Councils CPEO Health Services Immunizations Needed for School Know Your Rights Mental Health Support Services MPLS Kids After School Care Nutrition and Wellness Menus Educational Benefits Application Behavior Standards School Messenger School Request Social and Emotional Learning Social Media & Online Safety for Caregivers Spring Break Resources Technology Support for Students & Families Transportation Severe Weather	Severe Weather MPS Home > Families > Severe Weather Severe Weather It is always our hope for learning to continue unless it is unsafe to do so. This page provides guidance for severe weather. We continually monitor the forecast from the National Weather Service. In the event that conditions appear to be hazardous: A severe weather meeting is called which includes staff from Transportation, Operations, Communications, the Superintendent’s Office, Athletics, Community Education and other departments as necessary. We consult with neighboring school districts and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Our transportation team monitors the road conditions, including physical checks. The group makes a recommendation to the superintendent on whether or not school should be closed and determines the impact of closing schools. The superintendent makes the final decision based on the following factors: safety and well-being of students and staff, severity of the weather (extreme cold, flooding, heat, etc.), timing of the weather (overnight, during the school day, etc.) and ability of buses and cars to travel safely. Full-day school building closure decisions are made no later than 5:30 a.m. the day of the closure. When a school is closed or moves to e-learning: Buildings are also closed to the public. After-school activities including Minneapolis Kids and athletics are also canceled. The Communications Department notifies families if schools will be closed or move to e-learning. Communications If schools will be closed or move to e-learning, notification is sent by: Robocalls, texts and emails The district website Local television news Social media (Facebook and Instagram) It is important that schools have the most up-to-date contact information for families in Infinite Campus. Note: if your profile is marked “private” in Infinite Campus, or if no contact is marked as guardian, you will not receive messages from MPS. Contact your school to make updates to your Infinite Campus profile. Food Resources For a list of community food resources when our school buildings are closed, visit the City of Minneapolis website. Winter Weather For the 2023-24 school year, e-learning will only be used on severe weather days for schools (and some grade levels at certain schools) at risk of falling below state-required instructional hours if school is canceled due to weather. Schools that won’t be short on instructional hours if they close (all elementary schools and some high schools) will be closed on severe weather days and will not move to e-learning. If we have many severe weather days and get close to the state requirements for instructional hours, it is possible that even these schools may need to move to e-learning. Other schools (all middle schools including those at K-8 schools and some high schools) will have e-learning days in the event of severe weather so that they can meet state requirements for instructional hours. The State of Minnesota has approved up to five e-learning days for school districts annually. Schools that will move to e-learning on severe weather days due to winter weather Anderson Anthony Anwatin Ella Baker - grades 6-8 only Franklin Harrison Heritage Justice Page Longfellow MACC Metro Education Services - grades 6-12 only MPS Online - grades 6-12 only North Northeast Olson River Bend - grades 6-8 only Sanford South Stadium View Sullivan - grades 6-8 only Washburn Wellstone Schools that will be closed on severe weather days due to winter weather Adult Education Anishinabe Anishinabe Armatage Bancroft Barton Bethune Bryn Mawr Burroughs Cityview Dowling Edison Ella Baker - pre-K - 5 only Emerson FAIR Field Folwell Green Central Hale Hall Henry Hiawatha Hmong International Academy Howe Jenny Lind Kenny Kenwood Lake Harriet Lower Lake Harriet Upper Lake Nokomis Keewaydin Lake Nokomis Wenonah Las Estrellas Loring Lucy Laney Lyndale Marcy MPS Online (K-5 only) Nellie Stone Northrop Pillsbury Pratt Roosevelt Seward Southwest Sullivan - pre-K - 5 only Waite Park Webster Whittier Windom Severe Heat In the event that it is unsafe to hold school and we move to either e-learning or close school, it is typically due to the heat index. The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. Many of our buildings are fully air-conditioned, so they are not impacted by severe heat. Schools that are in danger of falling below the state-required instructional hours, may have to move to e-learning on severe weather heat days, while some others would be closed. Schools that move to e-learning on severe heat weather days Anthony Anwatin Longfellow Schools that close on severe heat weather days Field Hiawatha Kenwood Roosevelt Northrop Lake Harriet Upper On severe heat days, all of these buildings will be closed to the public. All after-school activities and Minneapolis Kids for not fully air-conditioned schools are canceled. All other schools will continue with in-person learning at their school sites on severe heat days. When schools are closed or are e-learning due to severe heat, families can pick up cold picnic lunches from their schools if needed and should contact their schools for more information. Preparing for E-learning Technology is a key component of e-learning. Take steps to ensure your student has both a device and internet connection. Devices should be brought to and from school every day. This makes sure that students have their devices at home with them each evening if e-learning is needed. Every student who needs one should have been assigned a device that allows them to connect to an online learning platform, such as Seesaw or Google Classroom. Contact your school if you have questions about this. Internet service at your home should be available for your student. If your home is not currently connected to the internet, consider: The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a low-cost program to help households pay for internet service and get a discount on a device. Contacting your school about alternative internet options such as a hotspot. MPS has limited hotspot availability, so other options should be explored first. Contact the technology help desk if you are having trouble with an app or device at 612-668-0088. E-learning day schedules are different from an in-person school day. E-learning day activities focus on enrichment, review and extension of in-person learning. Attendance will be taken on e-learning days. Families should follow school instructions for reporting an absence when their student will not be able to participate in e-learning. All absences will be excused due to weather.		Winter Weather Tips The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some valuable tips on how to keep your children safe and warm. What to Wear Dress older babies and young children in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions. Hypothermia Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. It often happens when a child is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing. As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy. Speech may become slurred and body temperature will decline. If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing and wrap the child in blankets and warm clothes. Frostbite Frostbite happens when the skin becomes frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that their skin burns or has become numb. If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of their body in warm (not hot) water. 104 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips. Do not rub the frozen areas. After a few minutes, dry and cover the child with clothing and blankets. Give them something warm to drink. If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your healthcare provider. Winter Health If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops may help keep tissues moist. Cold weather does not cause colds or flu. However, the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other. Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough into the bend of their elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and the flu. Children ages six months to 18 years are recommended to get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu. For more tips, visit the HealthyChildren.org Winter Safety Tips website. Hot Weather and Air Quality Tips We take extra precautions in our buildings that are not fully air-conditioned, which include deploying portable air conditioning units and fans. All of our buildings have at least one water bottle filling station so families are encouraged to send water bottles on severe heat days. Notify your school if your student is unusually affected by the heat due to fasting or other conditions (for example, chronic medical conditions). You have the option of keeping your child home if you feel that is in their best interest. Follow regular attendance guidelines. Know the warning signs of heat exposure and heat-related illnesses. Encourage your student to stay hydrated. They can bring their own water bottles and refill throughout the day. We will also have disposable water bottles available in our schools that are not fully air-conditioned. Dress children appropriately for warm weather in accordance with program dress codes, including hats and sunscreen if spending time outside.