The facts you need to know about the new snow day make-up policy

Brinda Ambal, Staff Writer • January 29, 2020

Are you thoroughly confused about snow days? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We did the digging for you.

January is nearing its end, and we are already three snow days and one early dismissal in. The question of how many snow days we have left before make-up days are added floats unanswered around school with each possible inclement weather day.
This year is different than past years, in that the state changed the snow day allowance from three school days to meeting a minimum of 1,044 hours of instructional time over the course of the school year.

“I believe the hour-based requirement on school time addressed a concern that each school district has varied hours of instruction. The new policy allows for each school district to formulate their own ways to use hours of instruction,” Dr. Keith Marty, superintendent of Parkway School District said.

Parkway builds in more hours of school than the minimum, which gives us the equivalent of seven full school days for inclement weather before we have to make any up.

“I personally like the hour requirement, as Parkway’s school days (at all levels) exceed the time many other state schools are in attendance. These ‘built in’ hours allow us to use seven snow days without make-up. This is positive for students, staff and families,” Marty said.

The three snow days and one early dismissal totaled to 22 hours of missed instructional time. We still have 30 hours of instructional time left before we have to start making up hours.

“This is the 10th year I’ve been principal here, and I don’t think we’ve ever used more than seven snow days in one year. Usually, we don’t use more than two or three. This allows us a lot of flexibility. We’ve only used three this year, and it is the last week of January. Usually December and January are the months that are really bad, so I think we’re in no jeopardy of having to make up extra days,” Principal Dr. Jeremy Mitchell said.

About the Contributor

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief

Pronouns: she/her I am a senior, and this is my fourth year on staff. The Pathfinder has helped me push myself independently, build a supportive community and grow through my mistakes. Though I write a lot of opinions, I do seek to understand the other side— my newfound knowledge always either strengthens my own position or changes my mind. I love fairy princess tea parties with my friends and 12-hour study marathons. In the rest of my time, I am Student Body co-Vice President, a part of the Scholar Bowl team and often found on or around Creve Coeur Lake with St. Louis Rowing Club. I most enjoy the small moments; a friend’s laugh, the brush of my fingers against a piece of paper and the first glimpse of daffodil yellow after a really long winter (gotta love Missouri weather).