Anoka-Hennepin Schools Remain Open Monday Following Major Weekend Winter Storm

Anoka County, MN | March 16, 2026

Following a powerful winter storm that swept across much of Minnesota over the weekend, officials with the Anoka-Hennepin School District confirmed that schools across the district would remain open and operate on their normal schedule Monday, March 16, 2026.

The decision came after district leaders conducted a late-evening review of updated weather forecasts, road clearing efforts by local municipalities, and the readiness of school facilities across the north metro region.

Despite significant snowfall in parts of the Twin Cities area, district administrators concluded that conditions were expected to be sufficiently stabilized by Monday morning to allow buses and families to travel safely.

Evaluating the Storm and Its Timing

The winter system that moved through Minnesota on March 15 prompted a Blizzard Warning for Anoka and Hennepin counties through approximately 4:00 a.m. Monday, according to regional weather alerts issued during the storm.

While the system produced heavy snowfall and reduced visibility in several areas, the most intense snowfall occurred throughout Sunday, allowing municipal snow crews several overnight hours to begin clearing major roadways before the start of the school week.

District officials said that timing played a key role in the final decision.

Because the peak of the storm occurred during the weekend rather than during the Monday morning commute, road crews across the region were able to prioritize plowing operations on arterial roads, residential streets, and school bus routes overnight.

Coordination With Local Municipalities

School leaders emphasized that the district worked closely with local public works departments and municipal officials before confirming Monday’s schedule.

Those consultations indicated that road treatment operations, including plowing and salting, were progressing at a pace expected to make most bus routes and primary travel corridors passable by morning.

This type of coordination is routine for large districts during winter weather events, particularly for systems like Anoka-Hennepin that operate one of the largest transportation networks in the state.

Serving more than 37,000 students across 13 communities in Anoka and Hennepin counties, the district covers an area of more than 170 square miles, making transportation logistics a central factor in any closure decision.

Preparing School Sites for Arrival

In addition to monitoring road conditions, the district deployed Buildings and Grounds crews in the early morning hours Monday to prepare school properties for student arrival.

Maintenance teams worked to clear and treat key areas including:

• Parking lots and staff entrances
• Bus loading zones
• Walkways and sidewalks
• Driveways and service access routes on school property

District officials said the goal was to ensure safe and accessible pathways across all school campuses before buses began arriving.

Winter Safety Reminders for Families

With winter conditions continuing across the region, district officials also used the announcement as an opportunity to remind families of established winter weather safety protocols.

Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for cold conditions, including:

• Heavy coats or insulated jackets
• Hats and gloves or mittens
• Winter boots and layered clothing

At the elementary level, schools typically move recess indoors when temperatures or wind chill values fall below approximately 0°F to −10°F, depending on conditions.

Transportation officials also noted that bus delays can occur during snowy conditions, even when schools remain open.

Students waiting at bus stops are encouraged to stand at least five feet back from the curb, and families are advised that buses may run behind schedule during periods of heavy snow or traffic congestion.

Parents can also track bus arrivals using the Versatrans “My Bus Stop” mobile application, which provides real-time bus location updates for many district routes.

Parent and Guardian Discretion

While schools remained open Monday, district officials reiterated that parents and guardians ultimately retain the final decision about whether to send their children to school during severe weather conditions.

Under district attendance policy:

If school is open:
Students are expected to attend and the day is recorded as a standard school day.

If a parent keeps a student home due to weather concerns:
The absence will be excused if the parent or guardian contacts the school before the start of the school day.

If the school is not contacted:
The absence is recorded as unexcused.

If a student arrives at school but leaves early due to weather:
The absence is generally not excused under standard policy.

District leaders said the policy is designed to balance operational consistency with family safety decisions during severe weather.

A District That Rarely Closes

Closures within Anoka-Hennepin are relatively uncommon because of the district’s size and the complexity of rescheduling instruction across dozens of schools.

In recent years, closures have typically occurred only during extreme conditions, including dangerous wind chills or unusually heavy snowfall events.

Among notable recent examples:

• January 21, 2025: Schools closed due to extreme cold across Minnesota.
• March 25, 2024: Classes canceled during a major late-season snowstorm.

During the March 2026 storm, some neighboring districts in the Twin Cities metro opted for e-learning days or temporary closures. Anoka-Hennepin officials, however, determined that local infrastructure and road conditions would support normal operations.

Continuing to Monitor Conditions

Even with Monday’s decision finalized, district staff said they would continue monitoring conditions throughout the day.

Minnesota winters are known for rapidly changing weather patterns, and officials noted that safety considerations remain a constant priority.

For now, however, classrooms across the district opened their doors Monday morning, signaling a return to routine after a weekend storm that reminded residents once again of the resilience required to keep life moving during the state’s long winter season.

MinneapoliMedia
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