Talking Points: No School Monday, What About Tuesday?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Anyone with kids is well aware that there is no school for all public K-12 schools across the state on Monday.

Most Twin Cities private and religious schools we checked will also be closed.

The last time a governor ordered a statewide shutdown of K-12 schools was Gov. Arne Carlson in January of 1997, when wind chills hit 32 below.

Carlson also closed schools in February of 1996 and January of 1994. Rural school districts, where students are often bussed long distances, often make decisions to close when temperatures are extreme.

But closings in the metro -- particularly in the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis -- are relatively rare. One reason for that the concern that some students, especially those where English is a second language may not get the word of the closing and young students will head out in brutal weather to catch a bus that won't be coming.

Even with three days' notice that is also a concern this time. Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius appeared on WCCO Sunday Morning.

"We think that the word has gotten out to all families. In Minneapolis Public Schools, they have principals in their schools in case someone does show up so that they can keep them warm -- a skeletal staff in St. Paul as well," she said.

Then there is the issue of Tuesday. Temperatures and wind chills will be just about as bad as Monday. For now state officials are saying that Tuesday's closing will be up to individual districts -- stay tuned for the latest here at WCCO-TV and WCCO.com.

You can watch WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy and Matt Brickman every Sunday at 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.