By Rajan Saha and Vivaan Krishna Ponugoti, Staff Reporters
TESD implemented flexible instructional days (FIDs) during distance learning to allow teachers to teach virtually. After the return of in-school learning, the district has been using one snow day before transitioning to five FIDs every school year for emergency closures. Starting next year, the district plans to use FIDs before any snow days.
At the Sept. 12 education board meeting, committee members discussed making the changes and asked Dr. Wendy Towle, director of curriculum, instruction, staff development and planning, to draft the 2025-26 school calendar. The school board unanimously passed them at its regular Oct. 28 meeting.
“The main benefits (of FIDs) are that instruction can continue even if students and faculty can’t get to the schools because of weather, and we don’t have to add days at the end of the year,” Towle said.
French teacher William Rivé supports the district’s decision since fewer to no extra days would be added to the school year.
“It was nice when it was still snowing, but I also understand why we have implemented (FIDs). I do like this idea that if it were to snow for several days throughout the year, we wouldn’t be here until the end of June,” Rivé said.
Senior Mike Dora also supports prioritizing FIDs over snow days, since it would keep more summer days in the calendar.
“In terms of finishing school early, (using the FIDs first) is a smart move because snow days add to school days at the end of the year,” Dora said. “It’s a good thing they’re doing this because students won’t have to stay in school longer and cut into their summer break.”
Towle hopes that families understand and support why the school board decided to make these changes.
“One of the reasons I believe the board decided to put flexible instructional days first was to benefit students and families,” Towle said. “It’s a positive impact that families can hopefully see that we’re gonna have to have six days off of in-school instruction before having to worry about possibly changing any summer plans for the next week.”
Rajan Saha can be reached at [email protected].
Vivaan Krishna Ponugoti can be reached at [email protected].
