WOODBURY — When much anticipated snow storms come rolling by, there is also a much anticipated decision at Nonnewaug: snow day or not?
Although the idea of a break in the week seems appealing, do the pros really outweigh the cons?
Hall monitor Ellie Bruce feels strongly about having delays over the whole day off.
“I would much prefer delays,” Bruce explains.
When the roads freeze and the school schedule is forced to adapt, it often means that just having a delay is part of the question.
People who most of the time feel that snow days are not the way to go, and prefer delays, the perfect in between, a break without consequences.
“If we have too many snow days and the school year goes too late our summer passes very quickly, which interferes with people’s plans,” Bruce adds.
Snow days may bring a surprise break during the week, but if too many get tacked on, summer slowly starts getting farther away, and some people at Nonnewaug aren’t willing to make that sacrifice.
Joshua Kornblut, an integrated science teacher at Nonnewaug, says that missing too many days in the middle of the year can negatively impact academic schedules.
“Too many snow days can definitely be stressful,” Kornblut explains. “Certain classes, such as AP classes, are on such a tight schedule that having snow days can definitely impact their calendar.”
Bruce agrees that those interruptions can disrupt teachers’ scheduling.
“Too many snow days interferes greatly with teachers’ plans and students’ momentum in the classroom,” Bruce said.
However, even though snow days may have a negative effect, students and staff alike could use a mental health day to break up the week.
“I definitely think snow days can be beneficial,” Kornblut says. “Sometimes it’s nice to have a little unexpected break and can help be a mental reset.”
Many students also may feel similarly, like senior Andrew Grivner.
“It’s a nice break from school,” said Grivner. “It is also a good excuse to play in the snow.”
Grivner believes that it is not only helpful for students.
“I think that snow days can be used as a maintenance day for any kind of clean up, too.” said Grivner.
Bruce also agrees that “an occasional snow day does feel like a gift.”
However, students know that a snow day is a double-edged sword.
“I think it goes two ways,” says Grivner. “For students, it’s just a nice break, but the con is that it extends the graduation date so you have to stay in school longer, and for the teachers it can sometimes mess up some of their schedule plans.”
When it comes to snow days, there are many factors that are needed to make the decision whether or not a snow day is the right choice. Brian Murphy, the superintendent of Region 14, says that a lot happens behind the scenes.
“I talk to our facilities director, Mr. [Michael] Molzon, [and] he talks to the two public works directors in the towns of Bethlehem and Woodbury,” said Murphy. “He’ll let me know how the roads are … and then with all those data points, I make a decision.”
Because of Nonnewaug’s vo-ag program, there are many students coming from other districts like Naugatuck, Oxford, Seymour, and many more. Many of them drive to school, which means that the snow day call needs to be accommodated to them, too.
“Student safety and staff safety is the most important, our biggest priority,” says Murphy.
