By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

In a normal year, a snow day means sleeping in, making snow sculptures, sledding and not worrying about schoolwork. But in the time of coronavirus, nothing is normal — not even snow days.

While several neighboring school districts called a snow day Feb. 2, the Baldwinsville Central School District announced that last Tuesday would be a remote learning day. The district notified parents via email, text message, and posts on its website and social media.

“After careful consideration of the travel conditions, current weather situation and today’s forecast, all Baldwinsville schools will transition to remote learning today. … Schools will be closed for in-person instruction,” read the announcement.

Baldwinsville’s snow day policy stirred quite the discussion among parents. In an email to the Messenger, parent Jamie Bodenlos called the district’s policy “ridiculous.”

“This puts an added stress on parents and unfortunately working mothers,” Bodenlos wrote. “I’ve literally had to clear my work day so that I can manage my second grader and kindergartener’s class schedule.”

The discussion continued on social media, with many people sharing their thoughts on the district’s Facebook page and in groups. The district removed comments from its Facebook post about the closing and directed parents to contact Public Information Specialist Sarah Buckshot with their concerns.

“The purpose of this post is to alert families of the change in instruction today due to the weather. Due to several comments violating our community standards, comments will be turned off on this post,” read a comment from the district.

A post on the topic in the “Baldwinsville Helping Baldwinsville – Covid-19” Facebook group generated more than 240 comments.

“I think it’s ridiculous. Especially this year. These kids have already been through so much. Let them be kids,” wrote Jen Gilliland.

Another commenter expressed concern about families who may lack the resources at home for remote instruction.

“What about the kids that don’t have internet, that would maybe have to go to the library or a friend’s house for internet?” wrote Samantha Ancillotti.

According to the BCSD’s 2020-21 remote instruction reopening plan, the district can provide computers and internet “hotspot” devices for those in need.

In a statement provided to the Messenger, Acting Superintendent Joe DeBarbieri echoed that plan.

“If a snow day is called, all instruction for that day will take place remotely. Teachers will communicate with students their expectations for any synchronous or asynchronous activities to be completed. The district has equipped all students with the ability to work remotely, which eliminates the need to lose an instructional day in the event of cold weather or inclement weather,” DeBarbieri said.

DeBarbieri offered more insight into B’ville’s policy.

“Going remote eliminates the disruption of instruction for all of our students, and gives our teachers the opportunity to connect with students. It also allows us to continue to offer food services for all of our students. If emergency days are not used, it also affords us the opportunity to offer scheduled days off near the end of the school year,” he said. “Certainly, the district is reserving the option of using an actual emergency closing day if circumstances warrant the need.”

Victoria Perez Shires told the Messenger that she was aware of the district’s snow day policy before last week’s announcement, but added that “what looks fine on paper, is very difficult in practice.” Shires also weighed in on the Baldwinsville Helping Baldwinsville post.

“I am working remotely today. But my first grader needs assistance with his work. Which means I am giving neither my actual work or my ‘teaching’ 100% today,” she wrote.

Shires added that she did not feel the district took parent input into consideration for the policy.

Other parents commented in favor of the district’s snow day policy.

“I’m not bothered by it at all. We got the plans from my son’s teacher and it’s not exactly a full day’s work. He will still have plenty of time to play outside since the work will only take a fraction of our day. It will help fill in some time to make sure he doesn’t get bored,” wrote Samantha Lovelace.

The Messenger contacted Baldwinsville’s neighboring districts — North Syracuse and Liverpool — to see how their snow day policies compare.

“We will have the same traditional snow day closure each day of the week. While Wednesday is designated as a remote day for students, we do still have teachers and some student programs in the buildings on Wednesdays. Therefore if a snow day is called, it will be a non-instructional day for all students,” said Laurie Cook, school information officer for the North Syracuse Central School District.

Meghan Piper, school information officer for the Liverpool Central School District, said LCSD administrators consulted with the United Liverpool Faculty Association to develop the plan for the use of its five school closure emergency/snow days.

“While the district planned for these days in the calendar, the uncertainty of the pandemic (not knowing if there would be new state regulations like we faced in the spring, or not knowing if there might be circumstances with the need for school closure with or without instructional delivery) played a big role when it came [to] what would happen with school emergency days,” Piper said.

Liverpool decided that the first three snow days “will be used as ‘traditional’ inclement weather days dependent on conditions and used as warranted.” The two remaining days would require remote learning and staff would not report to their buildings. Wednesdays continue to be remote instruction days for Liverpool students.