Snow days might be looking different in the near future. Since all Chesterfield students K-12 have access to a Chromebook, and the county’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has established a system for virtual class, inclement weather might not result in a traditional “snow day” or “day off” anymore. While there has yet to be an official mandate, Mr. David Garrison, an assistant principal at Manchester High, clarifies the issue. 

“No decision has been made on how we’re going to handle snow days for this school year. But I could see, since everyone is familiar with virtual learning right now, we know every single student has a Chromebook, every student K-12 has a Chromebook this year, and every student has the internet. I could see this year not having true snow days,” says Garrison. “It might be something to the effect more of here are asynchronous activities, here are assignments you have to complete, rather than you have to meet with your teacher and we’re going to have the same regular schedule like we would normally have,” explains Garrison.

Garrison explains that there are three people who can close the schools in Chesterfield. Dr. Mervin B. Daughterty, the county superintendent, is who would close schools due to icy roads or other complications due to snow. In more extreme circumstances like a hurricane or a global pandemic, the state superintendent, Dr. James F. Lane and the governor, will close school. According to Garrison, county-wide school closure is a matter of safety.

“The risk of transporting students– that’s the main reason there is a snow day,” says Garrison. “If there are severe power outages, we don’t know who’s going to have access to electricity, who’s going to have access to the internet, so that would be a reason why there might be a snow day.”

Some students at Manchester have mixed feelings about snow days cancelling school. A benefit to school being cancelled is the short brain break for students to relax and enjoy the time off without being required to work on schoolwork for the day. But having school cancelled can have a negative impact on students as well. Classes are already harder being fully virtual and a sudden pause in instruction might cause more stress since classes are likely to fall behind within a day or two without the continuous flow of schooling.

Freshmen Courtney Dewell and Callie Brown have different views about snow days off from school. Dewell states that she enjoys having the extra break from school. The quick break from school allows her to have more of a low-key day. Brown says otherwise: she dislikes the unexpected pause from class. “Classes fall behind, then we have to work twice as fast to catch up,” she says.