Districts split on whether to cancel classes
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For students in some of the local school districts, the weather forecast of what is predicted to be a huge amount of snow moving into the area over the next few days, will sadly not bring with it the reprieve from school, historically known as a "snow day."
With many of the districts in remote learning due to the pandemic, students are able to receive instruction, negating the necessity for a weather-related day off. But, not all districts have decided on this action.
The Williamsport Area School District, the largest in the area, had sent out a notice when news of the snow storm first came out stating that there would be no snow day. But, recognizing the intensity of the storm, the district issued an update Wednesday saying that the district would be closed due to the possibility of power outages and that the students would get a snow day.
A spokesperson for the district said that the determination of whether to allow students to have a snow day will be on a case-by-case basis.
South Williamsport students who are also in remote instruction will not be getting a snow day, according to Dr. Mark Stamm, district superintendent.
"We are not," Stamm said. "We notified all the families that we would continue with their regular remote instruction schedule throughout this week. With the exception of the students with special needs who were receiving in-person instruction (they) are transitioning to remote Wednesday and Thursday."
"I'm kind of excited. Let's test the system. See how it works. Perhaps this is the end of snow days," he added.
He also stated that the district has modified the meal service so that all the days are covered.
Jersey Shore students also will not see a snow day this week if predictions for over a foot of snow come to fruition.
"We're still going to stay in remote," said Dr. Brian Ulmer, district superintendents."We're going to do remote learning both Wednesday and Thursday."
Muncy School District would also continue in remote, if the snow event occurred while students were in remote instruction, Dr. Craig Skaluba, district superintendent said. This week, students in the district are attending in-person, so there would be a snow day if weather conditions deem it necessary.
For students in the Loyalsock Township School District, it is a different story. Even though they are in remote instruction until after the new year, they will be getting a snow day, if the weather warrants it this week, according to Gerald McLaughlin, district superintendent.
"At this time we have both our teachers and our support staff coming into the school to provide remote instruction. Therefore if we had to close school for snow, we would not have remote instruction," McLaughlin said.
Because the district has make-up days already scheduled, they would follow the normal school calendar, McLaughlin said.
Michael Pawlik, superintendent at East Lycoming School District, where students are attending in-person, also said that the district has a certain amount of days allotted for emergencies like snowy conditions.
He said that even if the district were to go to remote instruction, they would take advantage of the make-up days already in the calendar.