Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,

I hope all is well.  When we were putting together our Fall Reopening Plan this summer one of the areas that we felt would not be an issue was going remote on snow days.  Unfortunately, as we began to peel back the onion on what this would mean we realized that having a “remote snow day” would create equity issues with some of our staff and students.  In the pre-COVID world, when we had a snow day, a day would get added to the end of the school year and no one was impacted.  Unfortunately, if we go remote on a snow day, it makes access to a full day of synchronous learning much more difficult for our RISE Preschool, Kindergarten, and High Needs students. In addition, some of our staff who only work in person would lose a day’s pay because we would not be making up the day at the end of the year.  There are other challenges as well and as we began to have these discussions with building principals, Directors, and Central Office Administrators, we realized that there was not an easy answer.

I also think another major factor in this issue is the mental health and well being of our staff and students.  Snow days allow all of us to take a breath in the fast paced world we are living in.  Students enjoy those occasional snow days where they can just play and be kids.  This year more than ever, we need that occasional mental break.

In full collaboration, we brought our concerns to the Reading Teachers Association and discussed the challenges with them and the pros and cons of traditional snow day versus remote snow day. After much discussion, they supported the idea that going back to traditional snow days would be the best course of action.

Therefore, if we have a snow day tomorrow, it will be a true snow day, not a remote day.  I will do my best to communicate that information later today once I review updated forecasts and talk to Facilities and DPW.  Because Friday is a remote day for most students, we would recommend that your children bring any materials and technology that they need home with them today.  We will be communicating that information to them today.

Thank you for your patience on this issue.  As we have all learned, nothing is simple in this world of COVID.

John F. Doherty, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools