A bus navigates in the snow at Forest Hills Elementary School in Eden Prairie. File photo by Ben Hymans
The weather outside may be frightful thanks to overnight snow and heavy wind gusts, but that won’t stop Eden Prairie Schools students from learning.
The school district announced early Wednesday, March 5, that due to poor travel conditions, in-person classes would switch to e-learning. Instead of attending school, students will be expected to complete their work at home, with live check-ins with teachers from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Family School and high school conferences will also be held virtually. EP Online will continue as scheduled.
Hundreds of other schools across the state, including Eden Prairie’s Hennepin Technical College, the International School of Minnesota, and PiM Arts High School will be closed.
However, Eden Prairie Schools already used up its single allocated snow day earlier this year, and had stated that any future days impacted by weather would not result in a closure but instead, a pivot to e-learning. This is possible thanks to each student having access to their own school-provided iPad or laptop.
Eden Prairie Schools will not hold most other in-person programs or activities today.
Details of district schedule for March 5
The following programs have moved to e-learning:
In-person schools
Family School
Eden Prairie High School conferences will continue virtually.
The following programs and activities are closed or canceled:
Before-school activities
CMS after-school activities
Morning and afternoon EPIC and Targeted Services
Little Eagles 3-year-old preschool
4-year-old PreK at all elementary schools
Eagle Zone childcare and CMS Mornings
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes
Community Education classes
Additional impacts:
After-school activities at EPHS will be at the discretion of coaches and advisors, though activities buses will NOT be running.
After-school/evening facility rentals will be at the discretion of renters.