Minneapolis, St. Paul public schools switch to e-learning as historic storm bears down
MINNEAPOLIS – This week's massive storm is shutting down schools across Minnesota, including the state's three largest districts.
With historic snow totals expected, parents started planning as schools shut down and went to e-learning or snow days.
"My wife actually flew out of town today, so she was very much making sure the kids had their stuff ready to go," parent Ryan Russek said.
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Their house is split, with two kids at Mounds View Public Schools with cancelled class; two others at Spring Lake Park will be learning from home; plus one parent working from home.
"It makes it difficult for blended families to really make a consistent plan," Russek said.
"I think the first few hours will be pretty quiet and pretty low key, but after that it's gonna get pretty rowdy [laughs]!" seventh grader Lily Engelke said.
Districts across the state made their own decisions on how to handle the incoming snow, like in Minneapolis.
"We're grateful that our students at Minneapolis Public Schools can keep learning even during severe weather," said Interim Superintendent Rochelle Cox.
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St. Paul sent devices sent home for online learning Wednesday and Thursday. And then Superintendent Joe Gothard made another announcement.
"On Friday we will have a snow day. Some people call it an old-school snow day," Gothard said.
It all impacts families. Parents say in order to juggle work and kids, some will have a TV day instead of e-learning, while others took a day off work to manage. Another mom said it's stressful, but added we learned a lot about what to do during the pandemic, and she'd rather have her son home safe with her.
Russek says he sympathizes with all the parents and caregivers doing their best this week.
"I'll be like them, just trying to go hour by hour to make sure the kids have something to do," Russek said.
Click here for an updated list of school closures and e-learning days.
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