Wyoming
No More “Snow Days” In Wyoming Schools? Technology Is All But Killing Them.
Snow days could soon become something kids only hear about as hyperbole from their parents: “When I was your age, when it snowed too much, we got a day off to play.” With the rise of technology and growth of virtual learning that can reach even the most remote corners of Wyoming, snow days may be on the decline.
That’s because of a holdover COVID-era rule from the Wyoming Department of Education that allows school districts to call “temporary virtual education days” during events of inclement weather.
Although the rule changes were primarily brought in response to quarantine situations during the height of the pandemic, they also provide flexibility for districts to call for virtual learning classes instead of snow or “cold” days.
A virtual school day happens when class is taught to students by their teachers via computer at home.
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told Cowboy State Daily that 75% of Wyoming’s school districts already participate in the temporary virtual education policy requirements that allow them the discretion to determine when or if temporary virtual education days will be used.
A district must develop a board policy that meets the requirements of the Department of Education’s Virtual Education Rules. No school district is allowed to use more than 50% of their total days as virtual days.
“I think this is just another tool for districts to use to make sure that those needs of their students are met in their communities,” Degenfelder said. “It really provides a vast amount of flexibility for them to provide these temporary education days.”
Fewer Snow Days?
Clark Coberly, superintendent of Weston County School District 7, said the new rules allow his school district the flexibility to call for virtual days when it appears there will be multiple days of school canceled.
But they still didn’t stop his school district from canceling school Monday because of frigid wind chills that were as low as minus 45 in some parts of the district.
“First and foremost, on our minds is the safety of our students and staff,” Coberly said.
Weston District 7 serves communities in rural northeast Wyoming and operates on a four-day-a-week schedule. Coberly said his school district has no extra days built into the schedule this year, so every snow or cold day has to be made up at some point later in the year. Virtual days, however, count as a normal learning day.
“It gives us the extra option to still stay engaged with kids,” he said.
Park County School District 6 in Cody hasn’t called any snow days or virtual days this school year, but has one snow day built into its schedule.
Superintendent Vernon Orndorff said the district will have zero snow days built into its schedule next year and plan to lean on virtual learning days for most future inclement weather events to avoid extending the school year into late May or early June.
“It allows us to always keep our doors open next year and leverage that learning option,” he said.
But for many adults, the snow days they experienced as children represent some of their fondest memories. Orndorff said the district will take parental input into account when deciding which days to call for virtual learning, and he wouldn’t rule out the possibility that snow days could still be called at some point.
In Person Still Preferred
Orndorff and Coberly said their districts will always prefer in-school learning and want to avoid virtual education days if possible.
“We feel that the best learning happens in school when students are face-to-face with their teachers,” Coberly said. “Virtual days are not a universal thing.”
Coberly also said his school district will still call for snow days and other weather-related cancellations if they appear to be short-lasting events.
But during longer storms and cold snaps, events in the past where Coberly said they “might not otherwise have any student contact” for long stretches of time, virtual days will now likely be the No. 1 option.
“Now, we have this flexibility to bridge the gap,” he said.
During the 2022/2023 school year, Weston 7 called two snow days and two virtual days, the latter of which Coberly said were well attended and successful.
Other Impacts
Also impacted by the closures are school employees, many of whom have to take paid days off to receive compensation for a virtual or snow day.
Orndorff shares the same preference for in-school over virtual learning, but also stresses that virtual work will be growing within the future workforce.
“In the future, there will be more and more situations where people will be working virtually and we want to prepare our students for those opportunities,” Orndorff said.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at Leo@CowboyStateDaily.com.
LARAMIE — The Wyoming Cowboys return to the Arena-Auditorium on Wednesday to host San Diego State in a Mountain West matchup scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff on CBS Sports Network.
San Diego State enters the contest tied for first place in the Mountain West, while Wyoming is seeking its 10th home win of the season.
The contest will be broadcast on the Cowboy Sports Network across 26 affiliate stations with Keith Kelley on the call and Kevin McKinney providing color commentary. In Sweetwater County, the game can be heard on KUGR 104.9 FM.
Advertisement – Story continues below…
University of Wyoming sports coverage
in Southwest Wyoming is supported by these great sponsors:
Wyoming comes into the game with an 11-5 overall record and a 2-3 mark in conference play after a road loss to Nevada on Saturday. The Cowboys are averaging 84 points per game, which ranks second in the conference, while allowing 72.7 points per contest. Wyoming is shooting 48 percent from the field and holding opponents to 44 percent. The Cowboys average 8.3 3-pointers per game, while opponents make 6.4, and Wyoming leads the Mountain West at 38 rebounds per game.
San Diego State is 11-4 overall and 5-0 in conference play after winning eight of its last nine games. The Aztecs are tied atop the Mountain West standings with Utah State. San Diego State averages 82.5 points per game and allows 72.8. The Aztecs are shooting 48 percent from the field while holding opponents to 40 percent, and they average 37.6 rebounds and 17.1 assists per game.
Leland Walker leads Wyoming in scoring at 14.5 points per game and also averages a team-high 3.8 assists, ranking seventh in the conference. Nasir (Naz) Meyer is averaging 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. Khaden Bennett adds 9.8 points per game and ranks second on the team with 4.8 rebounds per contest. Bennett ranks fourth in the Mountain West, shooting over 87 percent from the free throw line, and is second on the team with 41 assists.
San Diego State is led in scoring by BJ Davis at 12.1 points per game. He is shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and is tied for the team lead with 21 made 3-pointers. Reese Dixon-Waters averages 11.1 points per game and also has 21 3-pointers on the season. Miles Heide leads the Aztecs with 5.4 rebounds per game, and San Diego State has seven players averaging at least three rebounds per contest.
The Cowboys trail the all-time series 53-42, with the first meeting dating back to Jan. 12, 1979. Wyoming holds a 27-14 record at home against the Aztecs. San Diego State won both meetings last season by a combined five points.
Wyoming will return to the road Saturday to face Fresno State at 5 p.m. MT in a game on the Mountain West Network.
CASPER, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming has produced several NFL players currently making an impact. Here’s how they did in the most recent week’s slate of games.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen was explosive for the Bills on Sunday, and Buffalo survived its playoff opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars 27–24.
Allen accounted for three of his team’s four touchdowns, two coming on the ground and the third coming by way of the pass. He threw for 273 yards on 80% efficiency, also picking up 33 yards via the rushing game.
Allen and the Bills have advanced past the Wild Card round of the playoffs every year since 2020.
In the divisional round, the Bills will face the top seed in the AFC, the Denver Broncos.
Frank Crum, Denver Broncos
Crum and the Broncos were off last week, as they earned a bye in the playoffs as the top AFC seed.
Crum will take the field against the Buffalo Bills and reigning MVP and fellow UW alum Josh Allen in the divisional round.
Marcus Epps, Philadelphia Eagles
Epps had a respectable day for the Eagles, though the team ultimately fell 23–19 to the San Francisco 49ers, marking the end of their season.
Epps had a trio of tackles for the Eagles’ secondary unit in the loss.
The former Wyoming Cowboy finishes the year with 24 tackles, including one for a loss.
Chad Muma, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots easily handled their Wild Card opponents, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 16–3. However, Muma had little impact on the result in limited playing time.
In the victory, Muma failed to record a statistic. He only took the field for 13 special teams snaps and did not play a defensive down.
The Patriots will move on to face the Houston Texans in the next round of the playoffs.
Related
A Buffalo High School senior will soon trade in her black and gold, to play for the brown and gold.
Karly Davis has signed a written offer of athletic aid, to play basketball for the University of Wyoming Cowgirls.
So far this season, she is averaging 19.5 points per game, which is 4th in Class 3A and 8th in all classes of Wyoming High School Girls Basketball.
Her average is up 1 point per game from last year.
Davis explains what she thinks it was that Cowgirl Head Coach Heather Ezell and the UW Coaching Staff saw in her that made them try to recruit her.
“I’m definitely a competitor. I think I show that a lot in my game, and I think I can shoot the ball pretty well, so I think that’s kind of what they sparked interest in me with.”
Davis adds she plans to major in elementary education.
Trump administration sends letter wiping out addiction, mental health grants
Former Dem Rep. Mary Peltola announces U.S. Senate run: ‘Put Alaska first’
Obama Presidential Center slammed for promoting ‘far-left’ agenda on public land
ICE head says agents facing ‘constant impediments’ after migrant seen ramming cars while trying to flee
Virginia nanny testifies affair, alibi plan ended in bloodshed after love triangle tore apart affluent family
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Trump administration sends letter wiping out addiction, mental health grants
Video: Clashes With Federal Agents in Minneapolis Escalate
Venezuela releases multiple American citizens from prison following military operation
The Take: Iran, Trump, and the deadliest crackdown on protests yet
Lindsey Halligan argues she should still be U.S. attorney, accuses judge of abuse of power
-
Montana4 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Technology1 week agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Delaware5 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX6 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Virginia4 days agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB
-
Iowa1 week agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Education1 week agoVideo: This Organizer Reclaims Counter Space