School briefs: Snow day? Class will be online

As most Minnesota residents are just bracing for winter, one St. Cloud school is being proactive, scheduling a practice snow day for Nov. 21.

So do they know something that meteorologists don't?

Not exactly, but Cathedral High School administrators do know that valuable learning time is lost when students aren't in the classroom.

That's why they've decided that students will work online from home the next time a snow day is called. On Nov. 21, they're holding a trial run, allowing students to do their work from home on school-issued computers. Teachers will post their lessons by 10 a.m. that day and be available online to help.

"Technology will never replace in-class instruction, but it provides a way to minimize lost class time and it certainly enhances instruction," said Cathedral Principal Lynn Grewing.

Benilde-St. Margaret's in St. Louis Park made a similar move last year and allowed students to work online from home during one snow day. Like Cathedral students, they had school issued MacBook Air computers.

"It's another way that technology is changing education," Grewing said.

Brutally cold temperatures forced St. Paul schools to close six days last year, and as another winter season approaches, the school district is making it easier for families to know when kids will be excused.

According to the "winter weather plan" released this week, school will be canceled if a 6:30 p.m. forecast for 6 a.m. the next day predicts:

• A windchill below -40 degrees.

OR

• An air temperature below -25 degrees.

On days when school already has begun, and conditions appear to be worsening, the district says it will decide by 10 a.m. whether after-school activities will be canceled.

In all cases, be it cold or snowy weather, families will be notified of the closings by phone, text and e-mail.

One major exception: Athletics cancellations will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Anthony Lonetree

A successful school-levy campaign has given the Mahtomedi school district a little financial stability to go along with its top-ranked test scores.

Superintendent Mark Larson said Wednesday that he was pleased and relieved by the community's support.

The district has promised to reduce elementary class sizes. The levels will be set when the 2015-16 budget is finalized next spring, Larson said.

Because of continuing concerns about the district's open enrollment practices, the school board is expected this month to call for a task force to study the issue and to recommend a new policy for the 2015-16 school year and beyond, Larson said.