by Adam Kaye ’17
As we are beset by yet another Cleveland winter, with its usual tempestuous blizzards and sub-zero thermometer readings, many students find themselves wondering about the snow day policy and what it takes to get one. For those students curious about the criteria for a snow day, Principal Bradesca was more than happy to divulge that esoteric information.
What he said should give pause to every student on frigid, snowy nights when the last thing they want to do is homework. Though the metric for the length of our school year has changed, the likelihood for a snow day hasn’t changed significantly. Instead of mandating a certain number of school days per year, the state has switched its policy to requiring one thousand hours of school per school year, which allows more flexibility in the schedule, especially due to last year’s large amount of snow days.
Factors besides the feasibility of losing a school day are bussing, other schools, and, of course, safety. (Notably absent from the list is putting a spoon under your pillow and wearing your pajamas inside out – these do not increase the chances for a snow day.) Simply put, Principal Bradesca says, “The most important thing is our students’ safety.” If you feel that these factors aren’t good enough, then Mr. Bradesca would like to point out another key point. The Student Handbook states that “If [parents] feel that it is unsafe for your son to commute to school, then keep him home.” If the weather is so bad that you are worried about your health, then you should not be driving to school.
Also, posting pictures of the current weather will not result in a snow day. The most important thing in those cases is getting to school safe, and being on your phone will not help this in winter conditions. These are just a few factors that need to be kept in mind next time the thought-provoking gossip of a possible snow day dominate the world of social media.
