Dangerous Cold Prompts D303 to Cancel Monday Classes

The alarmingly and dangerously cold weather that’s beset the region this week has prompted St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 to cancel school on Monday, Jan. 27.

The district emailed local media Sunday announcing the closure of schools on Monday as a result of the weather. All after-school activities also are canceled, the district said.

With temperatures early Sunday evening at 28 degrees and a wind chill factor of 10 degrees, it seemed almost balmy by comparison with anticipated overnight lows of -9 degrees and wind chills of -31 degrees.

Monday’s high is expected to climb to only -6 degrees with wind chills of -29. But conditions will turn even colder Monday night — the low temperature is expected to drop to 22 degrees below zero, with wind chills of -48 degrees.

District 303 is reserving judgment on whether to cancel classes on Tuesday as well. The district said it will continue to monitor the forecast and weather conditions and decide later whether or not to cancel Tuesday classes.

“There is no timetable for that decision, as we always make that decision based on: safety of transporting students to and from school; safety of our staff members travelling to and from their work sites; actual weather conditions,” the district said.