It was a snow day for schools — but not in Hempstead, Roosevelt or Westbury
Hempstead schools Superintendent Regina Armstrong, here at a 2022 forum, noted that next week marks the traditional "winter break." Credit: Newsday / Steve Pfost
Three Long Island school districts and dozens of nonpublic schools offered remote online instruction to students Tuesday, even as most public systems shut down in the face of a snowstorm.
In Hempstead, Superintendent Regina Armstrong said her system put a premium on continuity of learning, especially at a time when school calendars across the state are becoming more crowded with holidays. Next week marks the traditional "winter break," she noted.
"Children are off all next week, so we want to be sure we get in five days of instruction this week," said Armstrong, who is in her seventh year as Hempstead's school chief. "Students are home, and they need something to do."
In addition to Hempstead, the Roosevelt and Westbury systems were included in Newsday's listings of districts providing remote instruction Tuesday. Online classes also were being provided by some schools operated by Catholic organizations and other nonpublic groups.
A rule adopted by the state's Board of Regents in 2022 allows districts to count remote learning toward their required minimum of 180 days of annual classes. The rule takes effect whenever districts face emergency conditions such as storms and floods.
Some districts are using experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic with remote hookups, classroom camcorders and other technology. Hempstead, like many other districts, now equips all 5,800 of its students with laptop computers.
Armstrong added that computerization of instruction also allows her district to monitor student participation, and that 80% to 85% of students make use of online lessons.
"It's also a way for parents to know that their children are occupied," she said in a phone interview.
In Westbury, Superintendent Tahira DuPree Chase sent a message to local families and others at the end of Tuesday's remote instruction, congratulating participants on what she described as a "positive teaching and learning experience." In addition to online lessons, the district also provided families with takeout meals on request.
Chase said that without remote instruction, Westbury would likely face giving up a vacation day later in the year to make up for lost lessons. "Your partnership played a pivotal role in ensuring a successful day of uninterrupted learning," the superintendent told community members.
Elsewhere across the Island, efforts to provide online instruction during storms have seen mixed results, with some districts continuing the practice and others returning to traditional "snow days." Many educators in the public sector say they have concluded that remote teaching is a poor substitute for face-to-face contact with students and avoid it when they can.
Others continue to see advantages. St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington builds remote instructional days into its annual academic calendar — about one such day every other month — even when such instruction is not needed to cope with inclement weather.
Rob Cordina, the school's director of digital marketing and communication, said such days provide more time for faculty to participate in training sessions, prayer and other activities vital to personal growth. In addition, he said, students at the Catholic prep school gain experience in using their electronic tablets independently.
"We think it's important, especially at the secondary level, for students to take responsibility for their own educations," said Cordina, who teaches economics at the school, which switched to remote instruction Tuesday.
St. Anthony's is managed by the Franciscan religious order and enrolls 2,450 students in grades 9-12.
Three Long Island school districts and dozens of nonpublic schools offered remote online instruction to students Tuesday, even as most public systems shut down in the face of a snowstorm.
In Hempstead, Superintendent Regina Armstrong said her system put a premium on continuity of learning, especially at a time when school calendars across the state are becoming more crowded with holidays. Next week marks the traditional "winter break," she noted.
"Children are off all next week, so we want to be sure we get in five days of instruction this week," said Armstrong, who is in her seventh year as Hempstead's school chief. "Students are home, and they need something to do."
In addition to Hempstead, the Roosevelt and Westbury systems were included in Newsday's listings of districts providing remote instruction Tuesday. Online classes also were being provided by some schools operated by Catholic organizations and other nonpublic groups.
A rule adopted by the state's Board of Regents in 2022 allows districts to count remote learning toward their required minimum of 180 days of annual classes. The rule takes effect whenever districts face emergency conditions such as storms and floods.
Some districts are using experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic with remote hookups, classroom camcorders and other technology. Hempstead, like many other districts, now equips all 5,800 of its students with laptop computers.
Armstrong added that computerization of instruction also allows her district to monitor student participation, and that 80% to 85% of students make use of online lessons.
"It's also a way for parents to know that their children are occupied," she said in a phone interview.
In Westbury, Superintendent Tahira DuPree Chase sent a message to local families and others at the end of Tuesday's remote instruction, congratulating participants on what she described as a "positive teaching and learning experience." In addition to online lessons, the district also provided families with takeout meals on request.
Chase said that without remote instruction, Westbury would likely face giving up a vacation day later in the year to make up for lost lessons. "Your partnership played a pivotal role in ensuring a successful day of uninterrupted learning," the superintendent told community members.
Elsewhere across the Island, efforts to provide online instruction during storms have seen mixed results, with some districts continuing the practice and others returning to traditional "snow days." Many educators in the public sector say they have concluded that remote teaching is a poor substitute for face-to-face contact with students and avoid it when they can.
Others continue to see advantages. St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington builds remote instructional days into its annual academic calendar — about one such day every other month — even when such instruction is not needed to cope with inclement weather.
Rob Cordina, the school's director of digital marketing and communication, said such days provide more time for faculty to participate in training sessions, prayer and other activities vital to personal growth. In addition, he said, students at the Catholic prep school gain experience in using their electronic tablets independently.
"We think it's important, especially at the secondary level, for students to take responsibility for their own educations," said Cordina, who teaches economics at the school, which switched to remote instruction Tuesday.
St. Anthony's is managed by the Franciscan religious order and enrolls 2,450 students in grades 9-12.
John Hildebrand is Newsday's senior education writer and has covered school news and policy issues affecting Long Island for more than 40 years.
