Butler schools will be in session Nov. 27, but the classes will be empty.

After Pennsylvania allowed public school districts to use the flexible instructional days previously in use in the Seneca Valley School District, the Butler Area School District submitted a proposal to the state asking permission to use the program. The days, called FIDs by educators, are stay-at-home alternatives to snow days. Students don't report to class, but must instead complete work from home.

The state approved FIDs in Butler schools, and in mid-October the district announced that Nov. 27 would be a trial run FID for the district.

On Monday, Superintendent Brian White sent families a note detailing how that will work. Students are not supposed to come to school on Nov. 27, but teachers are going to be working and available for students through various means. Teachers, White wrote, are supposed to reach out to families in their classes by Friday to prepare.

Teachers are designing specific lesson plans for the FID for students with special needs.

“As this will be the district's first use of a Flexible Instruction Day, we will be asking for your feedback to help us fine tune our procedures,” White wrote.