BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Winter weather has led to widespread school closures and shifts to remote learning days across Western North Carolina, adding to the challenges students face this academic year. Communities brace for anticipated freezing rain, sleet, and snow, resulting in significant disruptions to classroom instruction.
According to reports, several school districts announced modifications to their schedules on Wednesday, February 19, including Buncombe County Schools, which adopted remote learning and made it optional for teachers. Other districts, such as Graham County and Madison County, also executed similar e-learning days due to inclement weather. Meanwhile, many schools opted for two-hour delays to allow for assessment of travel conditions.
“Online and hybrid instruction is nowhere near as effective as in-person instruction,” said Thomas Kane, the faculty director at the Harvard University Center for Education Research. Kane emphasized the toll these interruptions take on educational progress. “Students lost about two-thirds of grade equivalent in math,” he added, noting the worrying trend of worsening academic performance as students miss valuable instructional time.
For many students, the recent disruptions compound earlier losses suffered during the pandemic. A report highlighted the struggle many students face: “They’re doing the opposite of catching up. They’re losing more ground,” Kane explained. This trend raises alarms for educators and parents alike as kids grapple with the ramifications of lost classroom time.
Transportation issues have also played a role; many districts have opted out of regular bus routes on icy roads, urging families to prioritize safety above all. The delayed openings provide additional time for school officials, like those at Buncombe County Schools, to assess road conditions effectively. “Buses will not travel on icy roads,” officials stated, underlining their commitment to student safety.
Yet, with winter storms affecting attendance, families are encouraged to take proactive measures during remote learning days. Ashley Allen, the co-executive director of Read 2 Succeed Asheville/Buncombe County, provided practical advice for maintaining educational structure at home. “If you work in the morning, maybe the student can know the morning is for playing, and then coming home from 5-8 [p.m.], that's school and it looks like this,” Allen remarked, emphasizing the importance of consistency and routine even when schools are closed.
Parents like Aleesha Ballard are already adapting to these changes, setting up educational systems at home. “Kids are missing a lot of days out of school. I know I have a system set up for when we do have snow days, bad days, and rain days,” she said. One can only hope this approach helps mitigate the impacts of lost classroom time.
Meanwhile, the winter weather advisories continue to loom. A warning was issued from 6 am Wednesday to noon Thursday, predicting 1-3 inches of snow or more, heightening the urgency for school boards to make timely decisions on closures and adjustments. For many educators and parents, the key to successful learning amid these disruptions is enhanced support and expanded options for summer learning.
With changes affecting nearly every county's school system, the state of North Carolina is working hard to respond to inclement weather with foresight. Gov. Stein declared a state of emergency as the winter storm approached, displaying the state's commitment to ensuring public safety. School administrations are continuously monitoring weather reports to make informed decisions each day.
Further closures and transitions to remote learning highlight the importance of staying updated, as many districts post current information on their websites and social media accounts. Alerts and updates are sent out each day to help parents and staff stay informed.
The continuing trend of extreme weather events raises questions for educational leaders about how best to support students who have already faced significant learning disruptions. Expanding access to summer learning programs, offering increased online resources, and creating opportunities for extra tutoring may prove necessary to catch students up as they navigate the challenging waters of education during such unpredictable times.
It’s clear the impacts of adverse weather will echo long after the snow melts. Educators and parents alike are faced with the colossal task of ensuring students can recover lost ground, enabling them to thrive as they move forward.