Osseo Area Schools Monitoring Cold Weather
The deep freeze has made its way to the Twin Cities. Meteorologists say temperatures will be well below zero for a good chunk of the next week, which means that Minnesotans have to bundle up.
But if you’re expecting school to be canceled during this cold spell, officials from the Osseo Area School District say, don’t keep your hopes up too high.
“We are not, at this time, considering canceling school in the foreseeable future,” said Barb Olson, the district’s community relations director.
That’s at least true for now, but Olson says the decision to close schools usually happens the morning of.
“Typically we would make the decision very early in the morning, so that we can communicate with families around 6:00 in the morning,” Olson said.
How they come to that decision about whether to have kids brave the elements just to get to class depends on a number of different factors.
“Certainly we’re considering the weather forecast, the road conditions, the safety of bus stops, the performance of our school buses,” Olson said. “And we also consider the risk of students staying at home and families where backup childcare is not available during the day.”
‘Situation by Situation’
In other words, it’s an inexact science. Even if the wind chill hits -35, the district policy is that school ‘may’ be canceled, but it’s not clear cut. That’s due in large part because canceling school can be disruptive to families.
“We take it situation by situation to make the best decision we possibly can,” Olson said.
The decision to keep schools open often raises concerns about children freezing at the bus stop. In that situation, Osseo has an app called ‘My Osseo Bus,’ that informs parents about delays in bus transportation.
“So we recommend a couple things: inform yourself by following the My Osseo Bus App, and dress your child appropriately for the weather,” Olson said. “Hats, boots, mittens, lots of layers will help.”
Ultimately, as many Minnesotans can attest, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices.
School districts urge parents to make sure they provide the most up to date contact information. If districts decide to cancel school, parents are notified through phone calls and emails.
