School Related Cancellations and eLearning Decision Making Process

Well, here we are, another winter may soon welcome us with a grand entrance. Every year I receive questions from staff, students, parents, and community members regarding the decision making process for making weather related decisions so I've created this blog entry that I update annually. Please read through this information carefully and be sure to contact me should you have any further questions.

eLearning Days

To begin, the New London-Spicer School District will utilize eLearning Days when school is closed due to inclement weather. This communication will cover the decision making process in calling eLearning Days.

Plans Prairie Meadows - When an eLearning Day is called, school is canceled. Prairie Woods - https://www.nls.k12.mn.us/Page/3370 Middle School - https://www.nls.k12.mn.us/Page/3371 High School - https://www.nls.k12.mn.us/Page/3372

Cold Weather Related

In the past we have had several school days closed due to excessively cold weather. I am hopeful that we will not experience those extreme temperatures this year. With that said, I would like to remind our constituents of guiding principles for closing school due to extreme temperatures.

• Our school buses are housed indoors and are in excellent condition. In the unlikely event that mechanical failure would occur during cold weather, there are backup buses that can respond to lend assistance in short order.
• Wind chill temperature, actual temperature and frostbite time frames are taken into consideration when making a decision to stay open or closed. I utilize the NWS Wind Chill Chart as my guide. If frostbite times are in the 30 minutes range, it will be my recommendation to hold school as planned provided other issues such as snowfall, visibility, and road conditions are acceptable.
• I believe that if we operate within the wind chill parameters set forth above, we are putting the safety of students first, but also providing opportunities to continue school on regularly scheduled days.
• I ask that parents pay special attention to proper clothing for their children during the winter season and especially during these very cold conditions. Whether a child is in Kindergarten or in 12th grade, all students should have proper winter apparel including mittens and hat before venturing out.
• If the decision is made to hold school on days of negative wind chills, it is the parent's final responsibility to determine whether it is safe for their child to go to school. Throughout our district, we have so many different circumstances with different families that a single decision by the superintendent may not properly respond to the consideration of a particular family. If parents elect to hold their children home due to inclement weather, the absence will be considered an excused absence.

Please make certain that your alert system information (Parent Portal) is up to date as we rely on this system to communicate messages regarding school closures.

Precipitation Related

Whenever extreme precipitation events are in the forecast or under way, the Superintendent works directly with the transportation company, county road officials, and area school districts to determine what action needs to take place to ensure student safety. Although, area school districts are consulted, each district comes to their own conclusions based on local road conditions and visibility.

When possible, these decisions will be made in the evening prior to 10:00 pm. However, often times this cannot take place due to a variety of reasons. If decisions cannot be made the prior evening, we will strive to make the call by 6:00 am.

Weather announcements are delivered in the following formats listed in order of priority:

1. Parent Portal Messenger System (Please make certain that your contact information and contact preferences are up to date. We ask that you elect to receive voice, text, and email alerts for priority and emergency messages.)
2. Social Media Networks (Facebook and Instagram)
3. District Website
4. Television News Stations
5. Radio Stations

Those are the general guidelines I use in determining school closures. As stated above, if the decision is made to hold school on days of negative wind chills or inclement weather, it is the parent's final responsibility to determine whether it is safe for their child to go to school. Throughout our district, we have so many different circumstances with different families that a single decision by the superintendent may not properly respond to the consideration of a particular family. If parents elect to hold their children home due to inclement weather, the absence will be considered an excused absence.

It is my hope that this information has been helpful. Enjoy the upcoming weather!