Emergency Weather Closings
Please note that we continually monitor the National Weather Service, which is the official government authority on weather forecasting and warnings for the state of Minnesota, so that we can use the most up-to-date information in our decision-making. In the Columbia Heights Public School District we use the following methods to notify the community of school closures:
- Telephone auto call messaging from each school (Please make sure your school has your current phone number on file).
- Email notifications (Please make sure you school has your current email on file)
- Local News: FOX 9, KARE 11, KSTP and WCCO
- WCCO 830AM Radio
- District website
Important:
- If you have not been notified or do not read any Columbia Heights Public Schools updates to the above list, school is in session.
School and evening activity closures:
- If the decision is made to cancel school, all classes and activities, including Community Education programs, are canceled or closed for that day and evening.
Early dismissals:
- If a decision is made for dismissing school early, we will initiate the same notification process as school closures. Early dismissals also include canceling of all after-school and evening activities.
For more information, contact the District at 763-528-4500 or fill out our contact form.
Closing of School
If school is to start late, become an E-learning day, close early or be closed all day due to inclement weather, notifications will be made on radio stations WCCO-AM (830) and KSTP-AM (1500) and on television stations WCCO (Channel 4), KSTP (Channel 5), KMSP (Channel 9) and KARE (Channel 11). The district will also complete an all-call to all families and post to the district website, Facebook and Instagram. The first consideration is the health and safety of the child. It is the policy of the Columbia Heights Public Schools to recognize the right and responsibility of the parents in the matter of school attendance on extremely cold days.
If school is to start late, become an E-learning day, close early or be closed all day due to inclement weather, notifications will be made on radio stations WCCO-AM (830) and KSTP-AM (1500) and on television stations WCCO (Channel 4), KSTP (Channel 5), KMSP (Channel 9) and KARE (Channel 11). The district will also complete an all-call to all families and post to the district website, Facebook and Instagram. The first consideration is the health and safety of the child. It is the policy of the Columbia Heights Public Schools to recognize the right and responsibility of the parents in the matter of school attendance on extremely cold days.
Winter Weather Announcements
During the winter months in Minnesota, it is important for students to bundle up on their way to school, on their way home and during recess. If the temperature, including the wind chill is zero degrees or colder, then elementary students will not go outside for recess. Students in need of warm winter clothing can borrow them from the school for the whole winter season if needed including, jacket, hat, mittens, gloves or scarf.
Severe Heat Weather
If the heat index is forecast to be 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher inside Valley View Elementary or Columbia Academy, then school for that day will shift from in-person to an e-learning schedule. The schools will communicate this status to their enrolled students and families. This is only for Valley View Elementary and Columbia Academy, as the other CHPS facilities have cooling equipment that moderates the indoor temperatures.
If the heat index is forecast to be 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher inside Valley View Elementary or Columbia Academy, then school for that day will shift from in-person to an e-learning schedule. The schools will communicate this status to their enrolled students and families. This is only for Valley View Elementary and Columbia Academy, as the other CHPS facilities have cooling equipment that moderates the indoor temperatures.