Snow canceled school for four days in Unit 3. E-learning is an option for some schools but not in Harrisburg.
Unit 3 did not sign a document at the beginning of the school year saying we were qualified for E-learning days. Even if there is more snow there is no chance of E-learning.
“E-learning days have to be approved by the Illinois State Board of Education,” principal John Crabb said.
Taking snow days, or emergency days as they are really called, means students get out later for the summer because it will push the date back.
“We have five emergency days built into the school calendar each year. We will have to make the snow days up at the end of the school year. Right now, we have used three days,” Crabb said.
When it’s not easy to get the back roads clear because of gravel, and if the temperature is below freezing that means the snow will stick until it gets to a higher temperature.
“Last week, school was canceled for a combination of secondary roads being slick for bus travel and extreme wind chill conditions,” Crabb said.
When it comes to having snow days or E-learning days, students have different opinions about which one they would prefer.
“I would rather have a snow day, everyone needs a break in the middle of the week at times,” senior McKenna Boon said. “Personally, I love snow days because they give me time to catch up on everything I’ve waited on.”
Snow days look different for all students.
“On my snow days I catch up on my CNA notes and English 121 notes; as well as working. On the days when I have those done, I relax at home with my dog and watch movies,” Boon said.
E-learning days can be more complicated for some students than just taking a snow day.
“E-learning is way more complicated and it does not help,” senior Layla Borders said.“ “Everyone I have talked to said that when we were E-learning that they didn’t learn anything, and neither did I.”
Having to keep grades up is a responsibility all students have, and sometimes that can be stressful.
“It’s harder to come back to school because you realize after having a day off that now you have to go back to worrying about your grades again,” Borders said.
