Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's been a rough week for schools in Western New York. Buffalo Public School students and staff have not been in school all week because of back-to-back snowstorms. Many other districts have been closed for multiple days.
See latest School Closings here
Due to record amounts of snow caused by the storms, Buffalo Public Schools and many other districts will also be closed on Friday, Jan. 19.
Typically, districts are careful about how many snow days are used. They generally have three or four built into their calendar. The State Education Department requires all schools to be in session for 180 days. If you fall short of that, you stand to lose state aid.
But Michael Cornell, Hamburg Central Superintendent, and President of the Erie Niagara School Superintendent's Association, said Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for several Western New York counties last week, giving them some relief from the 180-day rule.
"If we go below the 180 days, you get a dispensation, so you don't lose state aid," said Cornell on WBEN Thursday. The relief is only offered during the state of emergency which took effect Friday, January 12. It's unclear when the emergency will end.
Cornell stressed that the decision to close schools is always about safety first. "We don't want to put kids, families and staff in an unsafe spot."
Districts are trying to make the closing decision as early as they can. He said forecasters have better tools and are able to predict timing, placement and amount of snow a little farther in advance.
"As to whether we take these decisions lightly, we don't," he added.
"You have to remember that we have a lot of kids that are school dependent. They depend on warm meals as well as mental and emotional support."
While some families celebrate snow days, it becomes a strain and a challenge for many others.
