Snow Days May Become Virtual Learning Days In Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Snow days won't be an automatic day off from school for the rest of the academic year in Montgomery County, as the Board of Education voted to consider them on a case-by-case basis for virtual learning.

The vote put the policy into effect immediately Tuesday afternoon — Hana O'Looney, the student member of the board, was the only member to vote against it.

The move does not automatically eliminate all snow days. Virtual learning would likely not happen in a case where large amounts have snow fall or there are issues with electricity, said Superintendent Monifa McKnight at the Board's meeting.

Before this policy, the district would make up learning days during breaks or at the end of the school year in order to meet the state's minimum number of days of instruction, said McKnight.

The Board said it sent out surveys to families and held input sessions on Zoom for students, staff and employee associations to get their opinion on the option to make implement virtual learning on snow days.

O'Looney said the survey would have been more representative if students were also included, instead of just their parents.

“There’s a lot more interest from students in extending the school year than getting rid of inclement weather days,” O’Looney said, according to WTOP.

This year 182 days were scheduled for instruction, then that was modified to 181 to give staff and students off from school the day before Thanksgiving — 180 are required in Maryland. After four snow days so far, the district will need to make up three days in order to reach the minimum.

“This is the same school system that talked about adding three additional half days to this year school calendar, because we recognize the increased workload that has been put on staff and students this year," said O'Looney, according to WTOP. "And it sort of feels like doing this as walking back on that commitment to mental health.”