SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3)—Incoming snow-covered roads and icy conditions are forcing parents and school leaders to make tough decisions about safety.
Nearly every school district in the Ozarks closed its doors on Friday because of the winter storm. In Springfield, with more than 60 schools in the district, the focus isn’t just on the main streets but must include the often icy side roads.
“Drivers have to take extra caution. Where our kids live in the neighborhoods are those side streets, so we need to ensure our busses can travel safely,” said Director of Springfield Public Schools Operations, Shawn Dilday.
A new state law introduced last year has changed how districts handle snow days. In Springfield, the fourth day after three traditional snow days becomes an AMI day. These days, schools stay closed, but students are given learning packets to complete at home instead of losing an entire day of instruction.
“We provided packets to our families for students pre-K through grade eight. On the first day of AMI, they complete the information for that day in the packet, and then they return it to school when the student returns,” said Stephen Hall with Springfield Public Schools.
Parents have expressed concerns to KY3 about the new method. They’re not sure it will work well for younger children and worry that they may struggle to stay focused or finish the assignments. However, the approach to AMI days for older students differs.
“Grades nine through 12, their AMI information is available online through Canvas, which is the program they use regularly on any given day of the school year,” said Hall.
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