Talk of the District with Superintendent Corey Lunn: Snow days? It's Never an Easy Decision to Close Schools Due to Inclement Weather

With this recent cold front I have been busy moving the outside furniture and hose reels inside, digging out winter coats and gloves and making sure I know where the snow shovels have been hiding all summer and fall. Whether we like it or not, these are signs that cold weather is arriving and with it the possibility of inclement weather.

Even though I enjoy the changing seasons and snow-inspired recreation, as a school superintendent having to make a decision whether or not to close schools is never easy. The reason is simply that no matter what the decision may be there will always be people unhappy. Regardless, these decisions must be made to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

The decision to close school is often made in the dark, early hours with little concrete data to review. There are no magic numbers regarding temperatures, snow totals, wind chills, or other factors to help guide this decision. The large area in which our school district covers – more than 150 square miles from Afton to Marine – makes this even more difficult. Conditions may be fairly nice in one end of the district and very bad with unplowed roads and dangerous weather in another.

At the possibility of bad weather we watch the weather forecasts throughout the night and early morning. By about 4 a.m. I am in contact with our Director of Operations – who is also in contact with the bus company, local law enforcement, and city officials as needed. During this time roads are driven and we all discuss the status of the weather and conditions across the school district. Any communications and updates that I can provide to others will also take place during this time. I will then be in contact with superintendents in neighboring school districts to share information, and often reach a joint decision. This decision is made as early as possible.

Should we decide that our schools will be closed or school hours will be altered, all of our students’ families will receive an automated phone message. Parents who have shared an email address with us will also receive the message by email, and those who have opted to receive text messages will receive a text. This message will be sent as soon as possible following a decision. It is rare to delay the start of a school day as this often results in the most disruptions for families. If closing school for the day, our goal is to have the message reach families by 6 a.m. whenever possible. If classes are cancelled for the entire day all regular after-school and Community Education classes are also cancelled. Find more information about school closing, delays and early release days online at www.stillwaterschools.org under the Parent and Students Resources tab.

School closing information will also be available via WCCO-830 radio and any of the local television stations – Channels 4, 5, 9 or 11. Any information will also be posted on our district website, as well as school websites. Or stay connected on Facebook and Twitter (@stillwater834 or @CoreyLunn834) to receive the most current information.

Aside from all these steps and precautions, ultimately the choice to send a child to school should belong with parents. I am a strong believer that the parent has the best information regarding the weather and road conditions at their home. With this in mind our parents always have the choice during inclement weather to keep their children at home. There will be no school penalty and/or consequences for this choice. We only ask that parents make sure to communicate promptly with their children’s school their choice in this matter.

The upcoming winter season can be an enjoyable and joyous time of the year. It can also be a time of bad weather and reason for caution. I will continue to do all I can to make the best decisions for the safety of all our students, families and staff across the St. Croix Valley.

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Superintendent Corey Lunn can be contacted via email at lunnc@stillwater.k12.mn.us or by phone at 651-351-8301. Questions can also be sent by mail to Superintendent, Stillwater Area Public Schools, 1875 South Greeley Street, Stillwater, MN 55082. Register for Stillwater Area Public Schools E-News at www.stillwater.k12.mn.us/subscribe.

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