In the event of inclement weather, and based on information provided by the National Weather Service, the Superintendent may need to (1) close school, (2) announce a Flexible Learning Day, (3) delay the start of school or (4) dismiss school early. Orono Schools will make every effort to notify families and staff as soon as possible. We appreciate your understanding and patience in these weather situations. The safety of students and staff is our number-one priority!
School closing. If Orono Schools is closed all day, then ECFE programs, full-day Preschool, Discovery Kids and Spartan Kids programs will also be closed.
Any changes to hours of operation for the Orono Activities Center (OAC) will be shared in our communication to families and OAC members.
Late start. If Orono Schools announces a late start, buses will follow regular pick-up routes based on the late-start schedule. Spartan Kids and Discovery Kids will also adjust opening times to accommodate the late start schedule (e.g., Spartan Kids and Discovery Kids will open at 9 a.m. rather than 7 a.m.) In the event of a late start, morning ECFE and Preschool programs will be canceled. Dismissal times will remain the same for all schools.
Early dismissal. If the Superintendent announces an early dismissal, buses will follow regular return routes. Students will either ride the bus home or wait for a designated adult to pick them up. Community Education will communicate separately with Spartan Kids and Discovery Kids families with additional pick-up instructions. Please discuss your family plan if school is dismissed early.
After school and evening events and activities. Decisions to cancel after school and evening activities will be made by 3 p.m. and will not necessarily be tied to a school closing. This decision will be made by the Superintendent in consultation with the Executive Director of Business Services, Community Education Director, Athletic Director and Orono Activities Center Manager.
Flexible Learning Day. The district may employ a Flexible Learning Day model to optimize student learning when on-campus instruction is not possible. A Flexible Learning Day:
- may be called due to inclement weather or another unexpected event that causes a significant disruption to regular on-campus learning schedules
- can be utilized up to five days in one school year
- counted as an instructional day and included as hours of instruction (Minn. §Stat. 120A.41)
**Any changes to the hours of operation for the Orono Activities Center (OAC) will be shared in our communication to families and OAC members.
Communication. Family members will receive a phone call, email and text message through the district’s School Messenger parent/guardian notification system. To receive a text message, you must opt-in to School Messenger SMS notices (see also the accordion, above).
Announcements will also be posted on the district website, Facebook and X accounts, and shared with the following local media: KSTP-TV, Channel 5; WCCO-TV, Channel 4; KARE-TV, Channel 11; and KMSP-TV, Channel 9. These media outlets post School Closings and other notices on their respective websites.
Review/update your contact information. To ensure that the district has accurate parent/guardian/emergency contact information for your family, please review and update your contact information regularly in ParentVUE. Follow the instructions under "Let's Stay Connected," under the accordion, "How to Update Your Contact Information."
Thank you for reviewing this important safety information.
