Good Question: Are remote days for school a permanent option?

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) — We have a follow-up to one of your Good Questions. This is about snow days. Hopefully, we’re all past them for this season, no jinx.

What about looking ahead to next year?

We’ve talked a lot about juggling regular snow days for kids vs. still having class, with everyone going remote from home. This all started with COVID and the state education department launching a "snow day pilot".

Basically, with all the pandemic adjustments, it put the spotlight on making things easier for districts to still have school online and at home instead of just an all-out traditional snow day for students.

They did this for the last two years. Most of the districts that took advantage are downstate, including Hudson Valley and Long Island.

Many of our schools never had the need to just go remote because they didn’t have to use more than what was already built-in with the school calendar.

Under the trial run, it still remained an option for all. Soon it could be a permanent choice on the table.

The Board of Regents will take up these amendments on what schools can do when it comes to not just snow days but other emergencies.

If this all goes through, it takes effect this July.

Board of Regents amendments consideration by Evangelos Bourtis on Scribd