Students might have to do schoolwork on next snow day

UHRICHSVILLE (WJER) (February 1, 2022) – Area students could be in for more snow days this week, with freezing rain, snow and ice in the forecast. However, they might not be off the hook for doing schoolwork on those days.

For most districts in the area, the next snow day will be the sixth of the year. Superintendents are working on plans to make sure students get in the required number of hours.

In some places, that means adding on days at the end of the school year. Other districts are using Blizzard Bags – a collection of assignments students must finish when class is canceled.

Others, including Claymont, are switching to online learning on the next snow day. Claymont Superintendent Brian Rentsch says the teachers are prepared to instruct virtually.

“If there’s an advantage of the pandemic with virtual learning this would be it because our teachers have sent out their Zoom codes to meet with their students and their schedules,” he said. “Hopefully the transition, whether it’s Thursday or Friday for our next calamity day, will be a smooth one.”

Rentsch says virtual learning and Blizzard Bags – which can be delivered online – give the districts more flexibility than in the past. The state used to limit districts to five snow days, forcing them to add days at the end of the year.

“I think everybody is tapped out by the end of the school year,” he said. “To add more days on just prolongs the school year. [Virtual learning] helps us continue maintaining our instruction.”

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