By Josh Chang
The possibility of wintery conditions Tuesday persuaded Superintendent Kris Harrison to implement a new model for dealing with inclement weather: the flex day swap.
Shortly before 2 pm on Monday, an alert on the district website and a phone call to parents and faculty informed of the change. The alert explained that on Tuesday, “learning will be facilitated 100% remotely and will follow the established Wednesday flex schedule,” and that “on Wednesday we will plan for an in-person learning day.”
Most forecasts, including my own, call for up to 2 inches of accumulation Tuesday, with snow beginning in the late morning or early afternoon and continuing on and off and at varying intensities into the evening. Temperatures will likely hover around or just below freezing, posing the potential for a slight bit of sleet or freezing rain as well.
Even with these relatively minor impacts, moving the all-virtual half day already in the schedule is an enticing opportunity to skip much of the uncertainty and inconvenience induced by snow days, two-hour delays, and early dismissals. The plan avoids any disruption to time spent in classrooms, and by informing the community so early on Monday, Dr. Harrison gave parents and teachers time to prepare.
Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to plummet toward the second half of this week and into the weekend. The high temperature on Friday is forecast to be just 20 degrees, and if you were to step outside at 7 am on Saturday morning, you would be confronted by temperatures as low as 7 degrees, with gusty winds.
