Governor considers closing schools Monday due to weather
Neighboring governor in Minn. made decision to close state's schools ahead of bad weather
MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker could decide to close schools statewide Monday due to dangerously cold weather.
The governor’s press secretary said Friday afternoon that Walker will consider canceling public school classes statewide as weather predictions put possible wind chill lows at minus 40 to minus 55 Monday morning.
In an email, Press Secretary Tom Evenson said closures are usually left to individual districts to decide, but Walker will continue to monitor the situation. Walker’s office later clarified in a statement that the governor is encouraging local school districts to make their own decisions.
According to the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton announced Friday that schools would be closed statewide due to dangerous weather Monday.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction told News 3 schools have never been closed statewide since the system’s beginning in 1836. Wisconsin is a “local control state” meaning that Superintendent Tony Evers does not have the power to cancel schools, but the governor has emergency powers that DPI said might allow him to cancel all schools.
On Friday afternoon, some schools had already announced Monday closures including the Madison Metropolitan School district, the Verona Area School District and Milwaukee Public Schools. A list of area school closings is available online at Channel30000.com/weather/closings.
The Madison Metropolitan School District said it would decide by midday Sunday if schools would be closed Monday and Tuesday. The district said it expects it to be a two-day decision.
