Will my school be open Tuesday? What to know about Long Island closures after snowstorm
Snow cleanup starts at the First Student Bus Depot on West John Street in Hicksville on Monday. Credit: Neil Miller
Many Long Island schools will close for a second day this week amid a massive snowstorm that is expected to drop up to 24 inches of snow before it tapers off.
Marie Testa, president of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents and superintendent of North Bellmore schools, said almost all public schools in Nassau County will close Tuesday, with a handful opting for remote learning.
Testa said the decision came down to safety for students, families and staff.
“While many of the main roads may be cleared [by Tuesday], we're still dealing with power outages across different areas, trees down in different areas,” she said. “It’s all rooted in making the decision that is the safest for all.”
Levittown district superintendent Todd Winch said in a message to families Monday that schools will close due to “weather conditions and the significant snowfall” during the storm. “Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe,” he wrote.
In Suffolk, several large districts have already announced closures for Tuesday as well.
Middle Country, which has about 9,000 students, declared a traditional snow day for Tuesday. Superintendent Roberta Gerold said she did not believe the parking lots of her 14 schools would be cleared in time to open. She said she’s also worried about road conditions for staff to safely commute to work and the condition of side streets, where students would stand on to take the bus to come to school.
The decision to close is a tough one for educators like Gerold. Nearly half of her students live in homes that are eligible for government assistance like the free and reduced lunch program and many depend on school for reliable meals.
“I worry a little bit because the school's been closed for a week,” Gerold said, referring to the winter recess last week. “We have families that are food-insecure and their kids depend on us for their breakfast and lunch. So I'm sure there is anxiety there.”
Because of the recess last week, Gerold and others said remote learning was not an option for Monday or Tuesday given staff and families were not prepared.
“I'm not sure if all of our students brought their Chromebooks home, or if our teachers bought theirs [home], or if they have their remote lessons built in,” Gerold said.
Gerold said Middle Country will have used its three snow days by Tuesday and she would convene her staff Wednesday to put a remote plan in place in case of more snow in the coming weeks.
In a letter to families, South Huntington schools Superintendent Vito D’Elia said officials would let parents know later in the day whether Tuesday would be a "traditional snow day" for all students or if middle and high school students would be required to attend classes virtually.
"We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate the challenges that winter can bring," D'Elia wrote.
On Sunday, the state Education Department granted waivers for school districts to close on Monday, without remote instruction for students and without necessarily having to make up the day later.
The state said if districts are forced to close for additional days, they can apply to waive those days individually. Schools are required to have a minimum of 180 instructional days a year.
Newsday's Maura McDermott contributed to this story.
Dandan Zou covers education for Newsday. Previously, she worked for a community newspaper in Maryland and a personal finance magazine in Washington, D.C.
