Emergency School Closings

Decisions to cancel or shorten the regular school day and after-school activities are made by the superintendent in consultation with other staff. Although severe weather conditions are the most common reason for a change of school schedule, other events such as a utility outage or malfunction could necessitate the delay, cancellation or early dismissal of school. 

Information about school closings or delays is shared with the public in several ways.

• SchoolConnects notification calls – parents/guardians receive a mass notification call from the superintendent (for a districtwide schedule change) or principal (for an individual school schedule change) 
• Website - banner notice will be posted at www.district196.org
• TV and Radio - Twin Cities television and radio stations are notified and information is available on their broadcasts
• Information Line - recorded schedule information is available by calling 651-423-7777

If there is a delayed school start:

• Morning half-day kindergarten programs are canceled;
• Morning early childhood classes (ECSE and ECFE) are canceled;
• Morning School-Age Care (SAC) is canceled, and
• All morning community education classes are canceled.

Buses operate on a normal, but delayed schedule (with the exception of buses for the classes and activities noted above). After-school and evening activities, including ECFE and SAC, will take place as scheduled unless otherwise noted.

If school is canceled for the day:

• All regularly scheduled classes are canceled;
• All daytime and after-school community education activities are canceled;
• All ECSE, ECFE, and SAC are cancelled, and
• All elementary and middle school after-school and evening activities are canceled.

A decision about high school and community education evening activities is made by mid-afternoon.

For more information about emergency school closings, refer to the district regulation.