Inclement Weather Guidelines

  • Flexible Learning Day Plan

    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 Flexible 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.

    Flexible Learing 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.

    Special Circumstances/Programming: Emergency Closing Procedures:

    • The first five weather-related closings will be designated as FLEXIBLE LEARNING DAYS. All school buildings will close and all students will be learning at home per the Flexible Learning Plan. All student activities/practices, Community Education, Adult Basic Education, Early Childhood Education classes and Kids Connection are canceled for that day.
    • If a weather-related closing is not a Flexible 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                                     AM                              FM                     TV

     

    WJON Radio                             1240   

    KCLD Radio                                                                104.7                          

    KNSI Radio                              1450               

    KVSC Radio                                                                 88.1                

    KKJM Radio                              92.9    

    WCCO Radio                             830     

    WCCO TV                                                                                              Channel 4

    KSTP TV                                                                                                Channel 5

    KARE 11 TV                                                                                           Channel 11

    KMSP TV                                                                                                Channel 9

    St. Cloud Somali Radio and TV

    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 Twitter, or the District 742 website at www.isd742.org for up-to-the-minute closing and/or late start/early dismissal reports.

    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:
    1. Be sure your personal information in Skyward is current.
    2. Save any email address with isd742.org as a “safe sender.”
    3. Add 320.370.8000 to your phone contact list.
    4. 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.
    5. Download the free School Messenger app to your mobile device.