Some school districts approach snow day limit as possibility for more lies ahead
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - As Kansas City prepares for its next round of winter weather, more snow days for schools are likely.
They’re a wintertime staple for kids, but for some parents and schools, they bring unique challenges.
So far, it’s been a winter of heavy snow and constant school cancellations. School districts across Missouri and Kansas, and parents, are trying to adjust and adapt to the amount of snow days they’ve had to take.
While snow days may cause disruptions for some parents, others said they enjoy it when their kids have snow days.
“We’re in KS, so we’ve had quite a few,” said David Adler, a father. “Just been trying to balance it.”
“I do actually like that she’s off because I get to spend time with her,” said Tyree Jefferson, another father.
“I’m a stay-at-home dad so it’s been actually perfect,” said Christopher Able, a father of two.
“Honestly as a parent of a teenage driver, I’m grateful for any snow day so any day that I can have my kids home safe and warm, I’ll take it,” said Bethanie Wilson, a mother of two.
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On Presidents Day, families spent the holiday with their kids at Science City and KC Ice Center.
With more snow days possible parents said they trust the school districts if makeups are necessary. While several schools were closed for the holiday, Grain Valley Schools were in session.
According to Grain Valley Schools, with the age of Senate Bill 727 last spring, Missouri’s school districts are rewarded with an additional 1% of state allocation earmarked for teacher pay if the district maintains 169 student days.
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Grain Valley has used all six of the allowed AMI days and to maintain the 169 days, a makeup day was needed.
With more winter weather in the forecast, the district sent out a survey to families so they could decide when to schedule their first makeup day.
Fifty-seven percent ranked Presidents Day as their top choice. In the case of two more snow days needed for this week, the district said it will have school on April 18 and 21.
Across the state line in Kansas, Shawnee Mission School District said it has used five inclement weather days so far and has three more available.
In Kansas, if a school district designates snow days in its calendar, after using four, the state will forgive up to four more.
When asked what their plan would be if they ran out of snow days, SMSD said that conversation has not yet been had. Shawnee Mission School District said Tuesday, Feb. 18, will be a professional development day, so there will be no school, regardless of snow.
KCTV5 reached out to other school districts in Missouri and Kansas but did not hear back.
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