In contrast to January, a frigid month with unsafe conditions and no snow days, February saw three school cancellations in the span of two weeks. On average, schools in the Northeast have 4-6 snow days per year.
The road conditions can be dangerous for students living further out of town, like Fairfield, Sheldon, and Alburgh. Resources for plowing can be allocated for more heavily traveled roads. Buses have gone off the road in such conditions. For example, on February 7, 2025, a bus carrying ten students flipped on its side during a squall. Thankfully, there were no major injuries. However, even for closer places like French Hill, buses have been canceled when school has not.
Overall, school closings over the years are few, and some believe that students and parents should “get used to it” because we live in Vermont. However, this has been an ongoing discussion and will be for years to come. School cancellations are not taken lightly in MRUSD. For example, Bill Kimball, the superintendent of BFA, shared his methods surrounding school closings and the precautions taken when considering the conditions. Not only does the school watch the weather, but is also in contact with the plows inside the district, staying updated on road conditions.
Snow days are made up in June at the end of school year, though seniors, with their set graduation date, do not have to attend classes on these days.