Extreme Cold Weather Temperatures

Making weather-related school decisions is always challenging, and extreme cold temperatures add even more factors to consider. Some of the key questions that are evaluated include: When will the coldest temperatures occur? Is the forecast at the level of an extreme warning or just an advisory? Will a two-hour delay allow for safer conditions?

For the decision to close on Tuesday, Hastings was under an extreme temperature warning, with no improvement expected until midday. I’ve heard some questions about why there wasn’t a delay or closure on Wednesday, given that temperatures were only slightly warmer. On Wednesday, however, Hastings was under an advisory, with temperatures improving earlier in the day.

Please know that these decisions are never made lightly and, unfortunately, will never satisfy everyone’s expectations. If a school-related weather decision doesn’t align with what you feel is best for your family, you always have the option to make an attendance decision that works for you. Your child’s safety and well-being are the top priority.

St. Croix Valley Foundation:  When you receive donation requests, please take a moment to verify the source—especially the state. Recently, we learned that some community members received donation requests from the Hastings Foundation in Nebraska, which may have caused confusion. Here in Hastings, MN, the Hastings Foundation transferred all of its funds to the St. Croix Valley Foundation in 2023.

For your reference, I’ve included the original announcement below. Learn more about the St. Croix Valley Foundation at https://www.scvfoundation.org/grants

Hastings Public Schools - Forever Loved And Supported

The St. Croix Valley Foundation is honored to partner with the Hastings Public Schools Foundation to ensure that more than $2 million in endowed funds will support students at Hastings Public Schools for generations to come. After a lengthy process, the Hastings Public Schools Foundation (HPS) recently made

the decision to transfer its endowed fund to the St. Croix Valley Foundation. HPSF was born from the vision and commitment of community members who wanted to create an endowment to impact District #200 students now and for generations to come. Over the years, it has provided over $1 million in grants to support enhanced student learning experiences at Hastings Public Schools. When seeking to transition its endowed assets to a permanent home, the HPSF found the St. Croix Valley Foundation to be a perfect fit. As an endowed agency fund of the St. Croix Valley Foundation, the ISD #200 SPARK Grants Fund will be professionally managed and invested, providing annual grants to support Hastings students - forever.