Additional settings for Safari Browser.
Emergency Communication
Emergency Communication
Stay informed and prepared with timely, accurate updates during school emergencies. Our communication protocols ensure clear alerts across multiple channels, keeping families and the PACT community connected and confident in every situation.
Timely & Reliable Alerts
The Office of Communication and Community Engagement serves as the official and reliable source of information during any emergency or crisis involving PACT Charter School.
In partnership with the Superintendent and district leadership, the office is responsible for delivering timely, accurate, and consistent updates to families, staff, students, and the broader community. Communications can be shared through various channels, including email, texts, phone calls, the district website, and official social media accounts.
To avoid confusion and misinformation, all media inquiries and public statements during emergencies should be directed to the Director of Communication and Community Engagement. We appreciate your partnership in ensuring updates are clear, coordinated, and respectful of the safety and privacy of our school community.
In the event of a school-wide emergency, please refrain from calling the school, as the phone lines will be otherwise occupied. Updated information on events will be available through the local authorities and email when appropriate.
Christine Erntson
Director of Communication and Community Engagement
Phone: 763-712-4200, ext. 2105
Email
Office Location: Secondary Campus, A105
Communication Protocols During Campus Emergencies
PACT uses the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) from the I Love U Guys Foundation—trusted by more than 45,000 schools and organizations worldwide—to ensure clear, consistent responses during emergencies. Our communication approach prioritizes clarity, preparedness, and trust, providing a shared language for students, staff, families, and first responders. Information is shared proactively through training, drills, and regular reminders, and shifts to timely, direct updates during an incident. ParentSquare is our primary platform for alerts and ongoing communication, with text or phone calls used when situations are more urgent. All messages are factual, focused, and followed by updates as appropriate, helping families know what to expect and reinforcing that safety is a shared responsibility across our school community.
Weather-Related Closings and Delays
The safety of our staff and students is the priority when determining if the school should remain open in extreme winter weather. Because PACT’s attendance area spans a 15-mile radius, the weather may differ between many of our communities, so our focus will be on our immediate area.
PACT will post information about school closings or delays through various communication methods by 6:30 a.m. for school-day classes and by 2 p.m. for evening activities, ensuring timely updates for all stakeholders.
- Phone, text, and email messages from the district’s parent notification system.
- PACT Charter School website homepage.
- PACT Charter School Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Twin Cities broadcast media outlets.
Please do not telephone the school as the phone lines will be occupied.
It is a difficult decision to close the school due to a weather event. While staying home may be safer for many, it can be a hardship for working families and those who rely on daycare or school meals.
During a winter storm, PACT will decide to close or delay based on road conditions, as determined by the staff's ability to reach the building and our bus company's ability to run routes in a timely manner. A closure decision will be communicated by 6:00 a.m. to help families plan, and students in grades 6-12 will participate in e-Learning classwork.
PACT rarely decides to close early except in extreme weather circumstances because we do not want our students to take a bus to an empty house or be left at a bus stop. Early-closure decisions will be communicated promptly once made, ensuring families can prepare accordingly, even though such closures are uncommon.
PACT must make up missed school days when we exceed five closings in a school year, demonstrating our commitment to providing a complete educational experience for students and maintaining consistency.
Regular school attendance is essential for students' academic success. Because PACT has fewer instructional days than most Minnesota schools, attendance is even more essential for our students. If school is open, attendance is expected, and we ask families to do their best to have their students in school. However, parents/guardians have the final decision on whether or not to send their children to school during a weather event. The absence must be reported according to our attendance guidelines.
If an e-learning day is declared, families will be notified via phone and email by 6:30 a.m. Students in grades 6-12 must log in to Schoology to receive their daily school work, and specific requirements must be met by certain times for a student to be marked “present.” Minnesota only allows us to conduct five e-Learning Days per school year. For more information about e-Learning Days, visit the link below:
-
PACT will post information about school closings or delays through various communication methods by 6:30 a.m. for school-day classes and by 2 p.m. for evening activities, ensuring timely updates for all stakeholders.
- Phone, text, and email messages from the district’s parent notification system.
- PACT Charter School website homepage.
- PACT Charter School Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Twin Cities broadcast media outlets.
Please do not telephone the school as the phone lines will be occupied.
-
It is a difficult decision to close the school due to a weather event. While staying home may be safer for many, it can be a hardship for working families and those who rely on daycare or school meals.
During a winter storm, PACT will decide to close or delay based on road conditions, as determined by the staff's ability to reach the building and our bus company's ability to run routes in a timely manner. A closure decision will be communicated by 6:00 a.m. to help families plan, and students in grades 6-12 will participate in e-Learning classwork.
PACT rarely decides to close early except in extreme weather circumstances because we do not want our students to take a bus to an empty house or be left at a bus stop. Early-closure decisions will be communicated promptly once made, ensuring families can prepare accordingly, even though such closures are uncommon.
PACT must make up missed school days when we exceed five closings in a school year, demonstrating our commitment to providing a complete educational experience for students and maintaining consistency. -
Regular school attendance is essential for students' academic success. Because PACT has fewer instructional days than most Minnesota schools, attendance is even more essential for our students. If school is open, attendance is expected, and we ask families to do their best to have their students in school. However, parents/guardians have the final decision on whether or not to send their children to school during a weather event. The absence must be reported according to our attendance guidelines.
-
If an e-learning day is declared, families will be notified via phone and email by 6:30 a.m. Students in grades 6-12 must log in to Schoology to receive their daily school work, and specific requirements must be met by certain times for a student to be marked “present.” Minnesota only allows us to conduct five e-Learning Days per school year. For more information about e-Learning Days, visit the link below: