Remote learning was wrong choice in snowstorm

This winter is being recorded as one of the mildest winters on record (“Storm upends some schools,” March 1). While we have had our share of snow, the storms have often produced less accumulation than originally forecast.

It has also become the norm that when several inches of snow has been predicted, we either delay openings, close early or close altogether. We live in the Northeast. We are supposed to get snow and still function. Years ago, many of us would have trudged to school with 6 inches of snow on the ground.

The Albany City School District decided to pivot to a remote-learning day in that late February snowstorm even though it turned out to be much less than initially predicted. Most other public school districts in Albany County went to a two-hour delay.

Deciding to pivot to a remote-learning day has other far-reaching impacts on our community beyond preserving a future vacation day for a district and enabling staff to remain home.

Preschoolers identified with a disability who live in the Albany City School District did not have transportation that day to their special education programs because of the decision to go remote. When a district closes due to inclement weather conditions, it is deemed by the transportation company as unsafe to travel.

Moving forward, school officials need to consider the intent of why remote learning is used and not use it in a self-serving way like using it as a means to preserve future days off.

Sheri Canfield

Albany Founder, Spotted Zebra

Learning Center