MOUNT VERNON — Well, this winter has sucked the ever-loving life out of us all.
Four inches of snow fell in 12 hours to kick off the winter misery in December, precipitating Knox County’s first Level Three snow emergency of the season.
Later, Winter Storm Fern took the nation by storm, pun intended, forcing us all to cower in fear and pray our furnaces wouldn’t expire.
Of course, because this is Ohio after all, there have been many mini ice and snow fronts that have served as jabs in between these two knock-out blows.
Aside from the local street departments and the Ohio Department of Transportation waging war against the elements, local superintendents have been stressing the tundra-like temperatures.
Below is a full report on how each local district plans to navigate the hopefully warmer rest of the school year after a slew of snow or “calamity” days.
However, much like Richland Source’s cold-weather curmudgeon City Editor Carl Hunnell’s Fern live blog, Mount Vernon City School comedically shared videos on Facebook announcing snow days.
Have a laugh at the videos here if you haven’t already.
What the state requires
Centerburg Superintendent Ryan Gallwitz pointed out how schools now base their calendars on hours — not days.
Full transparency, all superintendents used the words “calamity days” or “snow days” to keep things simple, but the state of Ohio hasn’t used calamity-day language since 2014.
Rather, according to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, “school districts, joint vocational school districts and chartered nonpublic schools must be open for instruction for a minimum of:”
- 455 hours for students in half-day kindergarten
- 910 hours for students in full-day kindergarten through grade 6; and
- 1,001 hours for students in grades 7-12
- 910 hours for students enrolled in traditional school district online schools
“Schools may schedule ‘excess’ hours above the minimum number. Hours missed above the minimum do not have to be made up. However, if a school closes enough that it will fall below the minimum number of hours, the school must extend its scheduled year,” ODEW states.
ODEW requires school districts, community schools, chartered nonpublic schools and STEM schools to put online instruction plans in place when certain events cause missed school days.
“These plans allow schools to make up hours equivalent to no more than three school days through online delivery when closures occur under allowable circumstances, including hazardous weather conditions,” according to ODEW.
Centerburg Local Schools
Gallwitz said Centerburg Local Schools exceed the minimum number of hours required by law and have eight calamity days available for inclement weather.
“Our seniors get out of school five days before our underclassmen due to the date of graduation,” Gallwitz said. “I have to consider that when discussing calamity days and total instructional hours.”
The superintendent said his district has been out of school for a total of seven days, but that equates to 12 days for seniors.
“We still have plenty of wiggle room and do not plan to extend the school year or make up days at this time,” Gallwitz said.
Mount Vernon City Schools
So far, Mount Vernon City Schools have missed eight days of in-school learning.
Mount Vernon Superintendent Bill Seder said the district has “contract language that excuses the first five days” for students and staff.
“On days six to eight, we transition to Remote Learning. Students in grades 6 to 12 all have a Chromebook, and teachers push assignments out through Google Classroom,” Seder said.
“We are unable to provide 1:1 Chromebooks to students K-5, so they receive remote learning packets for days 6 to 8. On these days, teachers are required to work from their classrooms from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to support student learning.”
Once the district reaches nine days off, it tacks additional days onto the end of the year, delaying everyone’s summer fun.
Seder did say that there had been discussions about not extending the school year into the summer, but decided against it.
“If we find it necessary to use additional calamity days, we would begin makeup days on May 29. The board will continue to monitor calamity days moving forward,” Seder said.
Danville Local Schools
Danville Local Schools’ Board of Education approved eight calamity days; the district is currently on its tenth day, Danville Superintendent Jason Snively said.
“Anything after eight days is to be made up,” Snively said.
“Although our calendar meets and exceeds the minutes required by the state, even with allowing 8 calamity days for the school year, making up calamity days demonstrates fiscal responsibility, educational integrity and respect for community expectations.”
Snively said the district will make up those days as needed on Presidents Day and two other days originally scheduled as non-instructional in March and April.
“If additional days are needed, we will also make up days on spring break.”
Fredericktown Local Schools
Just like the other districts, Fredericktown Local Schools allow for a maximum of eight snow days.
“With the closure on Friday, Feb. 6, the district has used nine days, exceeding the number permitted,” Superintendent Gary Chapman said.
“Monday, Feb. 16 [Presidents Day], will now be used as a make-up day, and school will be in session.”
Fredericktown also exceeds the state’s hour requirement and “believes it is important to use available instructional days to recapture lost learning time,” Chapman said.
If the district needs additional make-up days, it will add them to the end of the school year in accordance with the district’s calendar, Chapman added.
Chapman does not have a revised last day of school in mind, but if one comes about he said the district will promptly notify families.
East Knox Local Schools
In a letter to East Knox families, Superintendent Richard Baird addressed concerns surrounding snow days.
As of Jan. 28, East Knox Junior/Senior High has completed 571 hours of instruction, and the elementary school has completed 548 hours, Baird said.
“These totals already account for the 64 hours [for the junior/senior high] and 62 hours [for the elementary] lost to calamity days earlier this winter,” he said.
“Additionally, the state grants us credit for two professional development days and two parent-teacher conference days, which further strengthens our standing.”
The superintendent added that the district has about an additional 10-day calamity cushion for its junior/senior high and 18-day cushion for its elementary school.
However, if Punxsutawney Phil is right and the winter keeps this pace, Baird said the district will have to look at its options for seniors as they get out earlier, like in Centerburg.
“Because of the proactive way the East Knox School Calendar is structured, we do not currently anticipate needing to add makeup days or extend the school year,” Baird said.