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Emergency Closing

The most compelling reason for closing schools involves the safety of students and employees.  In accordance with the District’s Emergency Closing of Schools policy, decisions to cancel or shorten the regular school day are made by the superintendent or designee, in consultation with other staff. Depending on the circumstances, consultation may also include City of South St. Paul personnel, district transportation providers, and neighboring school districts. 

Every effort will be made to make school closing or late start decisions by 5:30 a.m. with communication to families following shortly after. All unscheduled school closings, late starts and early dismissals due to severe weather or other emergencies, will be communicated with families through the district’s:

As well as the local news media:

  • WCCO-AM Radio (830)
  • WCCO (Channel 4)
  • KSTP (Channel 5)
  • FOX 9 KMSP; and
  • KARE 11

Families are encouraged to have alternate plans in place for possible emergency school closings.

South St Paul Schools will utilize E-Learning Days to provide continuity of learning in the event of inclement weather and other emergency closing days.

VIEW E-LEARNING PLANS HERE    Staff Reporting procedures

COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES

To ensure your family is receiving these important communications from SSPPS, please login to your Campus Parent Portal account to review and update all contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) and other preferences (i.e. primary language). 

Families needing to create a Campus Parent Portal Account, click here. Families having trouble accessing their Campus Parent Portal Account, contact the SSPPS Tech Help Department at ParentTechHelp@sspps.org or (651) 457-9458.


WINTER WEATHER PLAN

SSPPS monitors the National Weather Service to make the safest determination for students, families, and staff.

NOTE: If the weather becomes challenging during the school day, schedules may change. Changes would be announced through the outbound call system as well as through the other usual options: the district website, social media, local radio, and television. Families are encouraged to develop a plan with their child to prepare for a possible early dismissal.

Excessive Cold

The district may make the decision to cancel school due to excessive cold temperature and/or wind chill.

  • School will be canceled if the National Weather Service forecast for 6 a.m. on the following morning shows a 
    • Wind chill of below -35 degrees Fahrenheit OR
    • Air temperature below -25 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Every effort will be made to make the decision about excessive cold by 6:30 p.m. the night before the canceled school day. 
  • Families and staff will be notified via the district's communication vehicles as noted in the Emergency Closing Guidelines.

SNOW AND/OR ICE

The district may make the decision to cancel school due to snow, ice and/or other hazardous road conditions.

  • School will be canceled if heavy snow and/or icy conditions make it extremely hazardous or impossible for:
    • Buses to drive their routes AND
    • Employees to get to or from work safely.
  • Every effort will be made to make the decision about hazardous driving conditions by 5:30 a.m. the morning of the cancelation.
  • Families and staff will be notified via the district's communication vehicles as noted in the Emergency Closing Guidelines.

WINTER CLOTHING GUIDELINES

Families are encouraged to monitor their children’s clothing selections to make sure they are appropriately dressed for cold weather. Students who do not have the appropriate winter clothing may not be able to participate in outdoor recess.

Winter weather clothing guideline

 

SCHOOL CLOSING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS