Emergency School Closing and Cold Weather Guidelines...

When severe weather conditions or other school emegencies exist, the Superintendent of the Duluth Public Schools is authorized by the School Board to close schools. When such a decision is made, local news media cooperate by broadcasting information about such closings.

The decision to close schools due to severe eather is made prior to 6 a.m.  Unless you hear an announcement over local TV and radio stations that schools are closed or delayed, you can assume that school will be in session as scheduled.  Your cooperation in not calling stations or schools regarding possible closure is appreciated.

School closing information is generally broadcast on the following stations and their affiliates:

National Weather Service  
The Weather Channel
Duluth News Tribune

Local Duluth Stations
KDLH - TV3
KBJR - TV 6
WDSE - TV 8
WDIO-TV 10

KDAL Radio 610 AM
KDAL Radio 95.7 FM
WSCD Radio - 92.9 FM

(no web site known)
WEBC Radio 560 AM
KQDS Radio 1490 AM
KQDS Radio 94.9 FM

How Is the Decision Made?

· Duluth school district transportation personnel are up at 3:30AM checking National Weather Service reports, and on the road by 4:00AM personally checking road conditions. 

· They consult with transportation managers from Proctor, Hermantown and Superior school districts (who are also checking roads) and with the bus contractor.  They may also consult with the police department, MinnDOT, highway patrol, plus city and county departments that handle plowing.

· The transportation managers from Duluth, Superior, Proctor and Hermantown generally consult with the superintendents and make a decision whether or not to close schools by 5:30AM.  Making a decision later than 5:30AM is difficult - district school buses begin to hit the road by about 6:00AM, and the longer school districts wait to make a decision, the more difficult it is for parents to plan their day, i.e. daycare, childcare and latchkey. 

· Duluth schools rarely dismiss early.  Early dismissal puts many parents in a bind; they don't have access to last minute childcare, which could result in sending young children to an empty house with no supervision.  During severe weather, parents always have the option of picking their children up early from school.

Please know that when it comes to winter weather, we encourage and strongly support you in making the decision that is best for your child.  You are always the best judge of your child's health and safety.  The school board and administration realize that their decision for the majority of students may not fit with your individual circumstances.  A decision to keep your child home for safety reasons will be considered an excused absence.

Cold Weather Guidelines  

Elementary students are expected to go outside at noon recess under most weather conditions. In the winter, children should dress warmly and wear boots, snow pants, warm jackets, hats and mittens.  Each school has systems to ensure children are dressed properly for outdoor play. 

Principals are responsible for implementing cold weather guidelines for their school building. Staff will monitor outdoor conditions at 0 degrees and below to determine if students need to remain indoors because of cold air temperatures and/or wind speeds.  Schools will not send children outdoors if the wind chill is -18 or less.

Schools are equipped with weather radios that inform staff of National Weather Service alerts:

Cautionary (Wind chills of -18 to -20 degrees)
Advisory   (Wind chill of -25 degrees or below)
Or Warning (Wind chill of -35 degrees or below) 

In addition, current conditions can be checked on the Internet at www.weather.com or at the National Weather Service website www.crh.noaa.gov/dlh