OPINION ROSEMARY HORMOZ, REPORTER

We all love that 5 a.m. call. Superintendent Robert Monroe on the phone announcing a snow day. It’s not that common, but when it does happen everyone is so excited. Snow days are so important, not just because students can sleep in, but for the safety of all students and staff.

More than half of the seniors and juniors drive to and from school with many students walking to school, and with snow storms, it makes it harder for them to get to school. It is not worth risking students lives for one day of school.

We have seen how slippery and dangerous the roads get, students and parents deserve more confidence in their school district.

The Utica Community Schools Board of Education is who decides if we stay home or go to school during bad weather. They look at how many snow days we’ve had over the school year, the severity of the weather, and how safe the roads and streets are for students.

Snow days allow for kids to be kids, just for one day and, with all the stress of school, we need that once in a while.

Students playing in the snow, enjoying the white scenery all around them should encourage school officials to consider a day off.

Extreme cold temperatures is also another factor and a good reason for a day off. Little kids shouldn’t have to be in the cold temperatures just to go to school. Instead, they should be cuddled up in their blankets by the fire.

Students are waiting longer at their bus stops because of bus driver shortages, and on cold days, they are freezing waiting for a ride. That is something else the district should take into consideration.

Icy conditions on the sidewalks and streets is something else to look at when calling off. Students could slip walking to their bus stop and even walking into their school. That is very dangerous and can cause some serious injuries.

With high school drivers, students shouldn’t have their

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first experience in the snow at 7 a.m., going to school when they could be home.

When parents see the dangerous weather, and the district didn’t call school off, many don’t send their children to school, causing low attendance for the day. There are a lot of factors that go into calling a snow day and the school district should be more considerate of them.

If the safety of students and staff is ever questioned, that most likely means having a snow day is the safest bet. Many may argue that having too many snow days would take away from instructional time and cause students to be behind on their learning.

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I would argue that the safety of students and staff should be the number one priority of the school district.

If it comes to having extra days at the end of the year to make up for the time lost, so be it. I would rather come to school when the weather is safe than come in a blizzard.

After speaking with many students around the school, I think we can all agree on having more snow days when the weather is bad.

As long as the students and staff feel safe coming to school, extra days shouldn’t be a problem.

In conclusion, factors like students driving and walking to school, freezing temperatures, and longer waiting times at the bus stops should all contribute to school closing and making sure students and staff are safe.

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