Below is a message from Tami Bostick, Interim EDS, regarding snow days:

As we enter the winter season, we want to keep you informed about our snow day policy and what it means for the school calendar moving forward.

As per Colorado Revised Statute 22-33-104, schools are required to meet a specific number of Minimum Days and Minimum Instructional Hours each year. In order to ensure we meet these requirements, we have built in 3 snow days within our school calendar. These days are set aside in case of inclement weather, such as snow closures, to ensure that we don't fall behind on instructional time.

What happens if we exceed the 3 snow days?
If we go beyond the 3 snow days, we are required to add instructional days to the calendar. These additional days can be made up in a variety of ways, including:

• A Professional Development (PD) day
• A teacher workday
• A compensation day for staff
• Or by extending the school year (adding days at the end of the year)

As of now, we have already used 2 of our 3 snow days (with another day being called for tomorrow), which is earlier than usual for this time of year. Given that we are only in November and the winter months are typically the snowiest, we are currently working on a contingency plan in case we exceed the 3-day limit. This process involves approval from the necessary authorities, and once we have a clear plan in place, we will communicate that with our families as soon as possible. Should we need to make adjustments to the calendar, we will do our best to give you as much advance notice as possible.

We understand that many families plan trips or other activities around our long weekends, and we want to be respectful of your time. Our goal is to provide you with as much notice as we can to allow for those plans.

Why don’t we build in more snow days?
Some of you may be wondering why we don't build in more than 3 snow days. Historically, 3 snow days have been sufficient to meet our needs without extending the school year unnecessarily. We are mindful of the impact adding more days would have on your summer plans, and we strive to balance instructional time with family time as much as possible. However, we always remain flexible and responsive to the needs of our community.

Thank you for your understanding and support. We will keep you updated and communicate any necessary changes promptly. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,