Heat Goes Out At St. Paul School

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- While many schools were closed Wednesday, St. Paul schools stayed open.

Those who showed up to Mississippi Creative Arts Magnet School spent the day in their jackets because the building's boiler went out Wednesday morning.

The district says students in colder classrooms were moved to warmer areas in the school while workers tried to get the heat going again.

The school says the average temperature throughout the building was 64 degrees.

Parents were notified at 2:30 p.m., and given the option to pick up their child.

Parent Amaris Byum criticized the district's decision to keep schools open.

"When it's cold outside and you have to question whether or not school should be cancelled, it should just be cancelled because situations like this happen," Byum said.

The district says workers were able to fix the boiler late Wednesday afternoon.

Less than half of the students in the district showed up for class Wednesday, according to officials.