MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), the largest school district in the state, announced Wednesday evening that its schools will be closed Friday amid dangerously cold temperatures.
Watch: Milwaukee Public Schools to close Friday due to expected brutal cold temperatures
In a release, a district spokesperson said that due to the forecasted weather conditions on Friday, Jan. 23, all MPS schools and district sites will be closed, and all district after-school, recreation and other programs and events are canceled.
The district also said that all athletic and academic events, MKE Rec activities and other school-based events scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, are canceled due to weather conditions.
The announcement comes as temperatures are projected to dip as low as minus 15 Friday morning, with a wind chill near minus 40 as the polar vortex dips as far south as the southern end of Hudson Bay.
In the release Wednesday, the district stated that while a full closure will be in effect, the following essential staff are required to report:
- Boiler attendants and trainees
- Building operations supervisors
- Building trades supervisors: On call; will dispatch staff as required
- Engineers
- Small engine shop mechanics
- A few senior team members and others may be asked to report at the discretion of the superintendent or her designee.
- Other staff may be asked by their chief to work remotely to complete needed work.
According to the release, the high school exams scheduled to take place Friday will instead take place Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The district is also reviewing options to ensure middle school students receive the correct number of state-required instructional minutes by the end of the semester.A full list of school and other area closings can be found on the TMJ4 weather page.
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