St. Paul schools helping people watch their step in winter

The St. Paul School District is taking it up a notch when it comes to keeping people safe in winter.

Having fine-tuned the rules that dictate when schools will close, the district now is seeking to help people from slipping and falling outside of school when they're open.

"Ice Alert" signs that change colors when temperatures drop below freezing are being placed between staff parking lots and main entrances at 10 district buildings.

When the sign turns blue, people are advised to step carefully and hold onto hand railings, when possible.

The signs are being piloted this winter, and if successful in preventing slips and falls, could be expanded to other sites. The district said in a news release that the buildings chosen this year had the highest rate of ice-related slips and falls over the past three years. They are:

American Indian Magnet School.

Bridgeview School - Focus Beyond - Central Administration.

Como Park Senior High.

District Service Facility.

Highland Park Elementary.

Humboldt Secondary.

Johnson Senior High.

The Heights Community School.

The district also announced that it is tweaking its winter weather plan as it relates to days when schools are in session and after-school activities are cancelled due to weather. The change applies only to those schools with 2 p.m. dismissal times. At those schools, students will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m., instead, to help improve busing through the afternoon.