Embedded Files
By: Janice Godshalk
Flexible instruction days (FID) became permanent in 2019 after a five-year-long pilot program. The act that introduced them as permanent in 2019 was Act 64. This act allows schools up to 5 FIDs a year. These are used to avert make-up days for bad weather at the end of the year.
When making the decision on how to call a FID or snow day, Greg Freeman, current Pen Argyl Superintendent. He served as Secondary Director of Curriculum and Instruction for five years as well. And Nolen Gerencser, Principal, first has to decide whether the school should close. Then they look for the severity of the snow and how others may be affected to assess the internet and power outages. Members of administrations will drive around and survey the roads and sidewalks at this time to see if people can get to school safely.
Staff of Pen Argyl also have to follow guidelines when it comes to an FID day. The guidelines include a way to take attendance, a way to talk to school staff that students would normally be able to talk to, and a curriculum for the day.
Brett Kunkle, a science teacher, shared his fascination with meteorological forecasts. Kunkle said he follows various forecasts, including NOAA, and predicts whether the school will have a two-hour delay or an FID day. He explained that he strives to form an unbiased opinion by reviewing multiple sources to make predictions, earning him the title “AccuKunkle.”
Photo credit: Nora Marsh
A snowy road with houses that are also coated in white.
Kunkle comments that, “I really enjoy making the predictions.”
Jeffrey Meyers, math teacher, discussed how snow days can influence classes at the end of the year regarding standardized testing. He noted that test dates remain fixed and that additional snow days can reduce instructional time before exams, unlike FID days.
Snow days are days when students miss school due to weather conditions, and now due to power outages as well. Kristen Palenchar, history teacher, prefers snow days to FID days due to the stress the students and teachers may feel when expected to do virtual work. Plaenchar said, “I feel like the work assigned could be beneficial, but it's very hard to track accountability and integrity while the work is being done at home.”
Shira Yacker, teacher, said that FID days hold students responsible for their work and checking their own Google Classroom. Yacker also included that “I love that we end our year so early as compared to other districts... I also love that it provides us with continuity, and time isn't lost.”
Alexander Ferrell, junior, stated, “FIDs help the students stay on top of their schoolwork, especially in higher classes that have to get through more material, but lower classes don't have as much material and usually don't expect the students to do as much work at home.”
Some students prefer snow days, like Lily Lyra Granda, sophomore, who expressed that it was a break from school and said, “If it’s snowing, I’m unmotivated and won’t do the work. “
Leah Madeline Apostol, freshman, noted, “I would rather a Friday because it is an easy school day and it prevents adding days to the end of our school year, which I appreciate because I like our summer break.”
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