Dayton closes Minn. schools Monday ahead of cold; several schools starting late Tuesday

Published 10:48 am Friday, January 3, 2014

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton is canceling all public school classes statewide on Monday ahead of dangerous cold.

Dayton issued the order Friday. He says the safety of Minnesota’s school children is the state’s first priority. Dayton says all Minnesotans should be cautious about the weather in the coming days.

High temperatures on Monday are expected to be in the minus teens.

This is the first time a Minnesota governor has closed schools in response to cold weather since January 1997, when former Gov. Arne Carlson canceled schools as temperatures plunged to 32 below in the Twin Cities. Carlson also closed schools in January 1994 and February 1996.

Lyle, Southland and LeRoy-Ostrander schools announced classes will start two hours late Tuesday.