It appears snow makeup days might melt away if the state passes legislation still in the works.

Flexible Instructional Days (FIDs) in the Seneca Valley School District allow students to utilize “work from home” days during cases of inclement weather to count toward the state-required 180 days of school.

Superintendent Tracy Vitale expressed her hope that legislation will allow the district to continue utilizing such nontraditional school days, but thus far no bill has been introduced at the state level.

The pilot program expires at the end of the school year, which would force Seneca Valley and 11 other districts involved in the alternative program to reinstate traditional snow makeup days.

Embracing the future

Sen. Ryan Aument, R-36th, is among state legislators backing the program.

“More and more, schools are using technology to deliver instruction,” Aument said. “I think snow days will become a thing of the past, and we will deliver instruction regardless of weather conditions.”

As chairman of the state education committee, Aument said legislation to approve FIDs as an permanent option for schools to meet the mandatory number of school days “is being drafted” by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-28th.

Phillips-Hill said Friday that she was still waiting to hear feedback from the Department of Education to finalize the bill, but she and Aument would like to present the bill the week of March 18.

The four school districts in Phillips-Hill's area in York County would like to continue the program, she said, and she has “heard from school districts all over the state” about interest in adopting this option if legislation is passed.

“There's a tremendous amount of interest,” she said. “Some districts have even passed resolutions in support of the legislation.”

“One of the biggest misperceptions of the legislation is that it really only assists school districts in dealing with snow days,” she said, “but really there are all kinds of issues that could arise that would make this a valuable tool for districts.”

Phillips-Hill said passing the legislation would not mandate schools use the alternative school day.

“It would be an option they have,” she said. “I have always viewed this as just another tool that school districts will use to help educate their students.”

Aument said he also has seen a lot of support for this program.

“Students don't like having spring break taken away or the school year extended through June,” Aument said. “I think families and students recognize that that disruption is not helpful to learning, and this is a way to prevent disruption.”

Aument said he floated the policy idea in town hall meetings over the last few years in Lancaster County, where it received positive feedback.

SV parents wary

Despite government and administrative officials backing the FID program, many Seneca Valley parents aren't on board with what they've seen so far.

Mother of three Amy Grala said she's “hit or miss” when it comes to FIDs.

“I love the aspect of not having to make up the days at the end of the year,” said Grala, whose children are in kindergarten, third and fifth grades. “I kind of feel like they also help the school to make the call easier on whether to cancel school or not. Knowing they don't have to make the day up, they can just do a FID. It's better safe than sorry.”

Grala said that as a stay-at-home mother working on assignments with her children isn't a problem. On the other hand, she understands it presents more challenges for other parents.

Rachel Homick — a working mother with children, in kindergarten, first and fourth grades — said flexible days are tough for her family.

“I work early, so I'm up and gone before school's even called off, usually,” she said. “My husband works from home, so thankfully we have it covered, so someone's home with the kids when they're off — but we're both still working.

“It's too much work to put on families (who) work and have multiple kids.”

Chris Kelly is another Seneca Valley parent who isn't a fan of the FID program.

“I believe kids should be in school 180 days a year,” said Kelly, whose children are in preschool and first grade. “I think kids need to be at school — that's what I had to do when I was in school.”

Kelly favors the traditional model of tacking on school days at the end of the year.

“We're moving closer to the day when no kids are going to school, and they're just sitting in front of a screen all day,” Kelly said. “If they aren't in cyber-school, they should be going to school.”

Grala, on the other hand, supports FIDs because they give her family the opportunity to do something together in the first two weeks of June, before getting busy with summer activities. But, she added, she still wasn't sure if the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

“The reason I don't like it is I'm not a teacher,” Grala said, “and most of the work they give the kids is usually something they haven't done and have no clue how to do — especially with math.'”

On this point, all three parents agreed.

“I don't think there should ever be a situation where a teacher is sending an email to a parent to do the work with their kid,” Kelly said.

Kelly went on to say the change from a school environment to the home causes more distractions for his children — he believes more work gets completed at school.

“I guarantee the teacher at my school can do way more with my kid's learning than I can as a parent,” he said.

Homick had a similar notion of teachers being the best suited to engage her children when it comes to learning.

“I'm not a teacher; my husband's not a teacher,” Homick said.

Homick didn't think changes would make the program more useful, but Grala saw a lot of value in FIDs.

“It's a great idea. I don't think it's something they should completely flush, but maybe tweak it to see if more parents get on board, rather than totally getting rid of it.” Grala said.

She suggested the school district seek more parental input on the matter and have a meeting to discuss ways to make the program more agreeable for everyone.

Approval around state

Still, other state officials and school districts believe this is the way of the future — and it's here to stay.

Todd Keruskin, superintendent at Elizabeth Forward School District in Allegheny County, said his district experienced primarily positive feedback about its FID program.

“Every student in the district has an iPad, so we've used several flexible instructional days each year,” Keruskin said. “I've heard a lot of positive comments.”

Like Seneca Valley, Elizabeth Forward has been part of the pilot program since its inception in 2014, but the school district does things differently.

“What happens is the teachers actually come to school,” Keruskin said. “Most of the time, we're using it when it's really cold. Those days, the kids stay home.”

Keruskin said teachers still report to school, occasionally on a two-hour delay, and make themselves available to students via Google chat, email or other applications students can download on their devices.

When it comes to heavy snow, Keruskin added, the district fully cancels school for safety purposes. Those days become traditional snow makeup days in which spring or summer breaks are shortened.

“It's worked out really well,” Keruskin said. “Our community really wants to continue this, and we've been reaching out to state representatives and senators to continue the instruction days.”

Butler — Changed from June 5 to June 6Freeport — Unchanged, May 31Karns City — Original is June 5, one missed day unscheduledMars — Original is May 31, seven missed days unscheduledMoniteau — Changed from May 31 to June 13Seneca Valley — Unchanged, June 7Slippery Rock — Unchanged, May 30South Butler — Unchanged, June 7