Our kids are missing out on a lot this year, some things they will never get back. Our teachers are under an incredible strain, trying to deliver quality learning across 3 platforms with restraints no one has ever had to work with before. 2020 has taken so many things away from our kids and teachers, and now we're adding snow days to that list? There's a better solution.

Snow days are a magical unexpected break, a breather... a little gift from mother nature in the middle of long Maine winters. Are we really ready to take those away from our kids (and teachers) in this of all years??

Because of Covid and having to move so much online, we have the capability to have kids do work at home. But just because we can do it doesn't mean we should.

If the idea of extending the school calendar because of too many used snow days is unappealing, let's make an easy compromise that keeps some of our snow days but doesn't impact end-of-year calendars: build in 3 or 4 days and let the kids (and teachers!) have those days off! If we go over that built-in number, they could then move to the online system. This compromise keeps the magic of being a kid in Maine, and gives our teachers a well deserved break, while still keeping our end date from spilling into summer.

Please sign the petition to show your support for keeping snow days on the calendar in this fashion!

Some of the area schools keeping traditional snow days for students:

Brewer, Orono, Old Town, Glenburn, Hermon, Bangor Christian

*Several of these schools mentioned using a "compromise" model like the one described above.