Coming back from a year of online learning, H-F has decided to replace possible snow days with online learning. This decision was made by school leadership in November and is in effect this Winter season.

For background information “We still have snow or inclement weather-related days built into the official academic calendar,” said Pat Gnaster on behalf of the board

The Illinois State Board of Education requires school districts to build five emergency days into their calendar “now ISBE has created an option for districts to use e-learning in lieu of emergency days,” said Pat Gnaster on behalf of the board.

The new rule doesn’t necessarily mean every snow day will be a remote learning day. 

“The administration may now choose to use E-Learning days on a case by case basis, instead of emergency or inclement weather days,” said  Pat Gnaster on behalf of the board

These days will most likely be called by the school in an effort to avoid adding make-up school days at the end of the year. 

As much as students love having a free day, the board logically explained how it would benefit students in the end.

“Technology has evolved to a point that has made online learning a reliable and useful teaching and learning resource in some circumstances,” said Pat Gnaster  on behalf of the board.

Even though our students might not like this new decision, the school sees this as a positive transition. 

The most obvious benefit, to H-F’s School Board, was the fact that we will be limiting the number of make-up days at the end of the year.

Superintendent Von Mansfield wants students to not worry: we will still have snow days. 

After having a whole school year online, Mansfield said that “Technology has caught up to us so there may be times where you may have to do asynchronous work during these days.”

The only thing that has really changed is “This whole evolution [of technology] and probably because of COVID is that we have now a whole new infrastructure where we can now do class online,” said Mansfield.

With students not being used to this Mansfield explains what they hope to accomplish with this rule.

“I don’t think there is anything more to accomplish aside from the fact that it gives us more options,” said Mansfield.

With more open options “ it allows learning to continue in situations where staff and students would have difficulty making it safely to school in inclement weather,” said Mansfield.

H-F isn’t the only school in the state that is opting for this transition.

According to the Board, “All Illinois school districts have the option of using an E-Learning Day instead of an emergency day at their discretion. Several are exercising this option”

With us still trying to adjust to the normality of school, the Board wants students to know that “Our decisions will at all times be based on what we believe is best for our students and their learning.” 

In the case of a snow or remote day, students and parents should wait to hear from school administration.                                                           

Another quote As a point of clarification, the Illinois State Board of Education requires school districts to build into their school calendar 5 emergency days annually. Now, ISBE has created an option for school districts to utilize E-Learning Days in lieu of emergency days that result from inclement weather, and/or for any other emergency that warrants school closure.

In addition, it allows learning to continue in situations where staff and students would have difficulty or making it safely to school in inclement weather.