Winter storm closes dozens of schools Friday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Schools in Mid-Missouri have seen a flurry of snow days since the calendar turned, including another on Friday as inches of fluff fell overnight.
At least 58 schools closed due to the winter weather while 11 schools remained virtual for the day. The snow came in two rounds -- an initial one during the day, followed by a heavier swath of snow overnight that led to multiple crashes Friday morning.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires schools in Missouri to have a total 1,044 hours of instruction.
Columbia Public Schools says they exceed that requirement from the state and accounts for six snow days into its existing calendar. So far the district is just hitting that amount.
Friday was the district's sixth snow day so far this year, including one two-hour late start.
Noel Gilzow, a teacher with CPS says, "this is the last full day that we could take before having to make it up at the end of the school year."
Columbia Public Schools includes 36 hours of inclement weather days in its school calendar said, Noel Gilzow.
Going beyond six days forces the district to look at other options like eliminating early release days.
The district has changed an early release day April 13 to a full day of school, keeping the last day of school at May 26, a CPS spokeswoman said Thursday.
While virtual learning became a useful took during the pandemic, Gilzow says it's not a quick option on snow days.
"A bunch of hot spots and difference devices were deployed so that students would have access to wifi and the internet and many of those have been returned." Gilzow says.
CPS didn't turn to virtual days this year because it's not written in the calendar but the six snow days might be considers state emergency days.
Gilzow said, "some of those days might be forgiven by the state because it would impact so many difference school districts across the state."
The Jefferson City School District said last week that it had to extend the school year by two days because of the frequent winter weather leading to seven snow days in February.
The district's last day of school was originally May 24 but has been extended to May 26. Snow days are included in the district's calendar for the year but when the number of snow days goes beyond the number included the school year has to be extended.
