When would the district close school, delay the start time, or shorten school day?
With the arrival of winter comes an increased chance of a weather-related school closing, late start, or early dismissal. If this does occur we want to notify you as soon as possible, and that means having up-to-date contact information
The most typical reasons for closing school, delaying the start of school, or shortening the school day in Minnesota are related to snow and cold. Students must be able to safely arrive at |
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school, whether by bus, car, or walking. The amount of snow, temperature, wind chill, passable roads, buses that start are among the many factors that are considered
We are conditioned to follow news reports about an approaching snowstorm or bitter wind chill; however, there are other factors that may cause a school or schools to be closed at a far more unexpected time such as a loss of electricity, loss of heat, or a break in a water line.
Update your contact information
When school is closed, begins late, or closes early, our automated e-mail and phone alert system is our most effective means of notifying parents and families in the shortest amount of time.
In these cases it is extremely important for you that we have the most up-to-date parent/guardian contact information (home phone, cell phone, e-mail addresses). If your contact information is not current, or if you're not sure, please visit the Parent Portal (soon to be called Campus Portal) on the home page of the district website or click on this link to do so: Parent Portal
If you need assistance with this process, if you need login information, or if you need to set up your Parent Portal account, please contact the Technology HelpDesk at 763-785-5555 or TechSupport@district16.org
When to look for announcements
An announcement for school closings or a delayed start is usually made by 5:30 am.
Notification sources
If winter storms or other emergency situations cause us to close school for the day, delay the start of school, or close school early, we will notify our school community through:
--An "alert notification" will be sent to you by telephone and e-mail
A message will be sent to your home phone, cell phone, work phone, and e-mail address, based upon information provided by each family. To update your records, visit the Parent Portal on the district website home page or click on this link: Parent Portal. You can also contact your child's school.--The district website (SpringLakeParkSchools.org)
--Recorded messages on district and school office phones
--Twin Cities news media – Radio and Television
When school is canceled for the day
When the Spring Lake Park School District is closed, the following will typically take place:
- All schools are closed
- All daytime programs are canceled
- Early Childhood Family Education programs, Learn & Play Preschool are canceled
- Learning Ventures and Discovery Days are canceled
- Before- and after-school programs and classes are canceled
- Community Education programs for youth and adults are canceled
- After-school or evening athletic or activities practices or contests may or may not take place. Each is at the discretion of the district, the activities director, or individual coaches or advisors. The Spring Lake Park page of the North Suburban Conference website (nsconference.org) will also be updated.
- School facilities may or may not be open for evening community rentals. Check the district website homepage for further updates
When there is a two-hour delayed start
If the start of school is delayed for two hours, the following would usually occur:
- All schools will start exactly two hours later than usual
- Buses will run two hours later than usual
- There will be no morning half-day kindergarten
- Kindergarten Plus will have a two-hour delayed start
- Learning Ventures, Discovery Days, Preschool, Early Childhood Family Education, and Early Childhood Special Education will be open at their regular starting times. It would be helpful to call your Learning Ventures or Discovery Days site before bringing children to be certain staff has arrived
- Continue to monitor the district website for updates and changes
- All district staff should report as close as possible to their usual starting times
When school is dismissed early
If inclement weather (or broken water main or other facilities problem) causes a school or schools to be dismissed early, the following typically occurs:
- Afternoon Kindergarten (if it hasn't begun by this time) will be canceled
Early Childhood Family Education programs, Learn & Play Preschool classes that have not started by this time will be canceled
- Afternoon Learning Ventures will not reopen for care. Children who are at school when it is canceled need to follow the family’s emergency care procedures. Kindergarten students still in our care will have parents notified for pick-up within two hours.
- Discovery Days children will have parents notified for pick-up within two hours.
- Achievers/STARS and After-school Adventures classes will be canceled.
- After-school or evening athletic or activities practices or contests may or may not take place. Each is at the discretion of the district, the activities director, or individual coaches/advisors. The Spring Lake Park page of the North Suburban Conference website (nsconference.org) will be continually updated.
