The Tri-City United (TCU) District will cancel school if it is determined that it is unsafe for students and staff to travel to school. The Superintendent will make a decision to close schools using guidance from the National Weather Service in Chanhassen. The decision will be made in collaboration with our partners at Palmer Bus Company. Reasons for closure may include excessive snow, dangerously low temperatures combined with wind chill, unsafe road conditions; especially as they relate to bus travel, or if it is determined that buses will not operate dependably. The decision will typically be made prior to 5:45am in order to provide adequate notification for commuting families and our students who ride buses. Students should not report to school.

Decisions to close schools or alter schedules for students are made to ensure the safety of students based on information available. It is important to remind students, staff, parents/guardians, and TCU residents of the school closing procedures and communications to ensure student safety and a safe winter for all.

Families that live on rural roads may receive an alternate pick-up location from our partners at Palmer Bus Company for days when rural routes are undriveable for buses. Families that are impacted by alternate pick-up locations will be notified as soon as possible by Palmer Bus Company on those days.

We will focus on the safety of our students, and more specifically, on the safety of children who are waiting at bus stops or walking to school during the decision-making process. If parents/guardians disagree with TCU’s decision to have school, they may always keep their children home, and it would be marked as an excused absence.

Factors used for deciding on closing school for severely cold weather are based on the National Weather Service’s wind chill forecast and their corresponding frostbite guideline chart. Consideration to delay the start of school or cancel school will be triggered if the National Weather Service projects a 6:30am wind chill temperature of -35°F to -40°F, or greater, with a corresponding frostbite stage in the 5–10 minute range. The decision will also be made if there is a combination of dangerous road conditions and a wind chill that is very cold, but may not be in the above-noted threshold.

Should it be determined to start school late, TCU will use the same notification system and timelines as those used for a school closure. Buses will operate on a schedule to deliver students in time for a late start and dismissal will be at the regular time. Families that live on rural roads may receive an alternate pick-up location from our partners at Palmer Bus Company for late start days when rural routes are undriveable for buses. Families that are impacted by alternate pick-up locations will be notified as soon as possible by Palmer Bus Company on late start days.

If school is canceled all day, it is at the discretion of the Activities Director and Superintendent to hold varsity practices and contests. Information about cancellations will be shared on the TCU website, or through our email/phone notification system. If school is canceled during the day, all activities hosted by TCU will likely be canceled for that afternoon/evening.

If schools are closed for the day, all daytime and after-school Community Education activities (including Kid Zone and TCU Preschool are canceled. A decision about Community Education evening activities will be made by mid-afternoon and communicated via TCU’s website or through the online registration system.

• TCU Preschool: In the case of a late start, all morning-only classes will be canceled. All-day classes will follow the 2-hour late start schedule. If schools are closed for the day, all preschool programs are canceled.
• Kid Zone: In the case of a late start, Kid Zone also follows the late start schedule (for example, if there is a 2-hour late start, Kid Zone will open at 8:00am). If school closes early due to inclement weather, parents/guardians will be asked to pick up their child within one hour of the adjusted school closing time or by 4:00 pm at the latest. If school is canceled for the day, Kid Zone will also be closed. TCU reserves the right to close KidZone due to weather as TCU deems necessary for the safety of the students, families and staff.
• TCU Community Education: In school TCU weather closures, the TCU Community Education will maintain posted business hours unless extreme weather conditions call for a closure due to safety. In this case, it will be noted on the TCU website and social media channels.

TCU will notify families directly using the TCU website, our JMC Notification system (email/phone call), Facebook, and Twitter. Parents/guardians should make sure phone numbers and email addresses are accurately entered into their JMC Parent Portal to ensure phone calls and messages will be delivered correctly. If you don’t receive notifications, please contact an appropriate building secretary or the District Office. Announcements will also be made on WCCO-TV, KSTP-TV, KARE 11, FOX 9 TV, KCHK Radio, and WCCO 830 AM Radio. The TCU website and social media accounts are updated to reflect school closing information as soon as possible after the announcements are made. We ask that, except in an emergency, families please not call the school office because phone lines are needed for administrative use. An exception is if there is an emergency that TCU should be made aware of immediately.

What is E-Learning?

E-Learning involves online or teacher-prepared lessons that students complete when away from the physical school building. Using one-to-one devices and making provisions for students without such devices, Tri-City United (TCU) Public Schools recognizes that education can continue even when students and teachers are not in the same location. Along with emphasizing the value of learning, the E-Learning Day encourages character growth in the areas of self-sufficiency, adaptability, and perseverance.

What are the goals of TCU E-Learning Days?

• To minimize the disruption to academic progress caused with school closures by making those out-of-school days as educationally productive and engaging as possible.
• To allow TCU grades 7-12 students an opportunity to practice the kind of online learning that is increasingly part of both college study and workplace training.
• To maximize the use of TCU’s one-to-one technology.

For Students Students in grades K-6: Students should spend some time outside and with family (if possible) - play games, read books and enjoy some physical activity. Families and students may also be asked to access and work through blended “Online Asynchronous Learning” Activity Boards posted on each grade level’s website. Teachers are available via email to support student learning and connect with families.

Students in grades 7-12: Students will complete assignments posted on Google Classroom, the school’s online learning platform. All assignments will be posted by 10:00am with teachers available to answer questions via email throughout the day until 3:00pm. However, it is understood that students will have a wide variety of responsibilities at home during E-Learning Days and that some may not have access to the internet. Staff members understand this and will be flexible with those situations. However, the expectation is that students will complete the work in a timely manner as developed between student and teacher.

Students with disabilities, as required under Chapter 125A, will have assignments designed to meet the needs of IEP/504 plans.

• Early in the academic year, the key stakeholders (case manager, parent, teacher and student) will collaborate to create the plan in an IEP meeting, other face-to-face meetings, or through email.
• On an E-Learning Day the classroom teacher will be the main resource for help on assignments and lessons. If a child ordinarily leaves the classroom and goes to another teacher for math, reading, or some other subject, then that teacher should design the E-Learning Day assignment for that particular area.
• When an E-Learning Day plan cannot completely replicate an in-session school day, efforts will be made to provide the support needed by particular students. For instance, if reading is a challenge for a student and the student has online access, the teacher may assign tasks on sites that will read text aloud.
• All assignments will be posted by 10:00am with teachers available to answer questions via email throughout the day until 3:00pm.

Students and parents without home Internet access or with limited Internet access must inform teachers of this fact so that needed modifications to assignments and due dates can be made.

For Parents

• Parents should visit with their child’s teachers regarding the expectation on an E-Learning Day. If required, special arrangements for students must be worked out prior to the first E-Learning Day. Families are asked to inform the teacher if they do not have Internet access at home since access to Google Classroom and completion of regular 5-12 assignments will require Internet access by the student.
• Parents of students in grades 5-12 are encouraged to access Google Classroom through the parent portal. Parents are welcome to contact the school for help in setting up their parent access.
• Parents, along with teachers and students, are asked to remember that E-Learning Days are designed to be flexible: if a child struggles with a concept or assignment and is unable to complete the work that day, parents should remind their child to communicate with the teacher the next day about how to meet requirements.
• Parents should contact teachers directly with any questions, concerns or frustrations they may have regarding E-Learning Day assignments.

For Teachers

In preparation for a Flex Day, teachers in grades 5-12 have been asked to:

• Familiarize students with Google Classroom so they will be able to access and complete any online assignments.
• Provide a timely plan, posting work for the day by 10:00am.
• Plan for self-directed, independent learning with specific consideration for age and individual learning needs.
• Anticipate time requirements recognizing students learn at different paces, especially in an independent setting.
• Customize learning opportunities with a focus on supporting troubleshooting for students with digital challenges.
• Communicate with colleagues to ensure common expectations, communications and protocols.

During an E-Learning Day, all teachers have been asked to:

• Check Google Classroom and/or email throughout the E-Learning Day from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
• Continue your work as a team or individual on professional development topics.