 |
Weather & Emergency Alerts
In the event of an emergency,
this Web page will provide parents and the community with directions,
information and updates related to the status of events. Information
will also be shared with local news organizations radio and
television stations, and posted on District Cable
Channel 21.
ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools now has the ability to inform all student families and staff members about emergency school closings or delays by phone within a 15–20 minute time period. Once a decision has been made by the Superintendent, a phone message will be sent out via Connect-ED to all student families and district staff with specific information.
School closing announcements and other emergency school-related instructions will also be broadcast on
radio and TV. District wide school closure will be broadcast as "Osseo District 279." The radio and TV stations we notify are:
General Considerations
-
Decisions are made by District 279 to protect students from
the potential harm of severe weather and other hazards.
-
District 279 will conduct school in the normal manner if there is reasonable
expectation that 85% or more of the students will be in attendance in
most schools.
-
When possible, decisions to close school or delay the start of school will
be made by 5:30 a.m., and the decision to dismiss school early will be made
by 11:00 a.m.
Delayed school starts due to emergencies will only be considered under
unusual circumstances. A one-hour delayed start means that your bus pickup
time will be one hour later and your school's starting time will be one
hour later than usual. Dismissal will be at the normal time. -
District 279 will do everything possible to avoid early dismissal once school is in session.
-
If school is dismissed early, dismissal time will be in the usual
order: first high school, then junior high school, and elementary
school last. This is done to minimize disruption caused by changing
schedules, and to transport older children home first to await younger
brothers and sisters.
-
District 279 will work closely with police, fire, road maintenance,
and other appropriate offices as decisions regarding dismissal,
closing, etc. are made.
Communications
Communication during any emergency is critical to safety. Listen to local
radio and television. We will report early-morning decisions to stations
by 5:30 a.m. and mid-day decisions by 11:00 a.m. No announcement is made when school follows a normal
schedule.
Unless you have an extremely unusual circumstance, PLEASE
DO NOT PHONE THE SCHOOL with questions during an emergency.
In case of emergency, please call the main school district number,
763-391-7000, or check the district Web site at www.district279.org. Information will be
updated as quickly as it becomes available.
Procedures for Extreme Cold
Extreme wind chill can be very dangerous. If the wind chill, based on revised wind chill calculations, is -35 degrees or colder at 5:30 a.m. and predicted
to remain that low or become worse, school may be cancelled. Usually
other adverse weather conditions are necessary to cause school interruptions
for wind chill. Please remember to dress children accordingly.
Procedures During Snow or Ice Storms
If a storm occurs or continues during the night, we survey conditions by driving critical roads in both the east and west sides of the District, consult
with police departments in Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove if we can, consult
with snow removal officials if we can, and follow radio weather reports.
A decision will be made by 5:30 a.m. whether school can be started with
reasonable safety. If a storm occurs or worsens during a school day,
the same procedures will be followed with a decision by 11:00 a.m. Once
school is started, we will be very reluctant to dismiss early because
of the problem of sending a substantial number of children home to locked
houses. While snowstorms in excess of 10 inches of snow with high winds
can cause school to be cancelled or dismissed early, most heavy snows
or cold will not result in school closure.
Procedures for Other Emergencies
It is not possible to outline all hazards and conditions that can
cause dismissal or disruption of the school day. Most hazards rarely
occur. Parents should be assured that District 279 will cooperate fully
with other emergency management agencies and officials whenever dangers due to fire, tornadoes,
power failure, gas leaks, or other emergencies occur. Whether the danger
affects a single building or all of our buildings, we will do everything
within our power to protect the health and safety of the children.
If an emergency requires information to students’ families (districtwide or for individual schools), a phone message will be sent via Connect-ED with specific information.
When school is cancelled, all school-related activities are also cancelled
When District 279 schools close, generally everything closes
including: all District 279 extracurricular activities, Community
Education youth and adult classes, Kidstop, Four Star Express,
Early Childhood Family Education programs, and events scheduled by
other non-district groups through the Community Education Department.
Makeup Days
District 279 Board policy requires at least 170 days of classes each year.
There are 172 student contact days in the 2007-2008 school calendar, as well
as several parent/student conference days as identified by each building.
If school is cancelled, a decision may be made to make up the day. If
more than two days are cancelled, subsequent cancelled days must be made
up.
Other Considerations
Given the unpredictable nature of weather and potential for extreme
conditions, District 279 bases its decisions about late starts
and early dismissals on the best information it has at the time. We assume
that most adults are not at home during the day to supervise students in
the event of an early dismissal or delayed start. Schools will try to
serve lunch if an early dismissal is called.
Obligation of Parents
Parents should be certain that their children are appropriately clothed,
instructed, and otherwise prepared for emergencies, particularly
weather emergencies. Parents should listen to the radio and television
news, or check our Web site at www.district279.org during times of severe weather. If parents disagree with
a decision to hold school on a day when they feel the weather is hazardous,
they are encouraged to keep their child home. The absence is an excused absence.
Other Things You Should Know
-
Each school has prepared an Emergency Plan to deal with crisis
situations.
-
Students will only be released to parents or individuals authorized on the student's emergency card.
It is important to keep this information up to date.
Buses will not be loaded if there is a bad storm, or if one is imminent.
-
If hazards exist outside, students and staff will take shelter inside the building. Visitor access may be temporarily
restricted.
-
Fire drills, tornado drills, and lockdown exercises are held in all schools. When possible, fire drills will be conducted when the weather is good.
Back to Top
|
Printer-Friendly 