Beginning of the end for snow days?

The time-tested tradition of the snow day is on its last legs, Wellington High School teacher Dave Conklin predicted back in November, as an explosion of COVID-19 cases forced students to learn from home. "It may be bittersweet, but it is a reality," he said. A powerful winter storm that dumped 6 inches on the region Tuesday put his theory to the test. While most Lorain County school districts canceled classes, Lorain and North Ridgeville chose another approach. Already versed in remote learning nearly a year into the pandemic, their students went virtual to ride out the storm. "Just because it snows, doesn't mean they can't be working," Lorain Schools CEO Jeff Graham said. He said conditions outside made it unsafe for students to travel to school. Instead, teachers ran classes in real time throughout the day, broadcasting lessons by video. "It's something we've been practicing for during these goofy COVID times," Graham said. The decision to continue teaching, even while school doors were closed, was an easy one, he said — and one he intends to make again. Pandemic or not, the Ohio Department of Education still requires students in full-day kindergarten through sixth grade to complete 910 hours, and 1,001 hours for older children in grades seven to 12. Lorain Schools got a late start in the fall, and is tight on hours, Graham said. North Ridgeville Schools Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio said she was torn over letting kids experience "the joy of a true snow day," but also had state requirements for hours in mind. "We also have shortened school days. So we don't have a lot of wiggle room," she said. North Ridgeville students had to "go" to school, but didn't have to log on at any certain time, didn't have to touch base with teachers and were still allowed to play in the snow, Ramsey-Caserio said. The day was asynchronous, meaning students were expected to "post meaningful work," get reading done and hit goals at their own pace. "They didn't need to get up. They didn't need to set up an alarm," Ramsey-Caserio said. She took a beating from angry parents over the decision. Some wanted live instruction throughout the day and others wanted students to have the day off completely. "There's still something to be said for having the opportunity for a snow day as a kid," she said. But with state regulations hanging over her head, it wasn't a possibility this time. Oberlin Schools were among the many who chose to take the traditional snow-day route. Superintendent David Hall said it would have been difficult and dangerous for his teachers to travel to school to get materials they'd need to run classes remotely. Hall said his decision to cancel was finalized when Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti, alarmed by blowing and drifting snow, issued a Level 2 travel advisory. Hall isn't ruling out trying either the Lorain or North Ridgeville models in the future. He said the pandemic is unlike anything educators have dealt with before, and Oberlin, like other districts, is feeling its way along. The way calamity days work is almost certain to change as technology connects students and teachers more strongly than ever, Hall said. "It's going to be different. This pandemic has caused a lot of things to change, and to be questioned," he said. "Are we looking at no time off during snow days? Fewer snow days? It's going to be interesting to see how it evolves." Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.