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Bennington district to use remote learning days after several weather cancellations; NDE now counts remote days as instructional hours
Summary
District staff told the board they plan to implement remote learning days starting with the third and fourth weather cancellations this year after the Nebraska Department of Education began counting remote instruction as instructional hours.
Superintendent Matt Loom told the board the district is prepared to implement remote learning days this winter if weather forces multiple cancellations. Loom said the district previously relied on adding makeup days but, after several heavy-weather years, has prepared a remote-learning plan crafted by administrators and staff.
A key change that made the policy more practical is the Nebraska Department of Education's updated guidance: remote learning days now count toward the state's required instructional hours. Loom said that change removes a major barrier to using remote days as an alternative to adding days at the end of the academic year.
Under the proposed approach, the district would convert the third and fourth weather-related cancellations in a year to remote-learning days. Staff will prepare differentiated guidance for grade levels (for example, kindergarteners will have different expectations than high-school seniors) and communicate detailed procedures to families ahead of the season.
Loom said staff will finalize details in the coming weeks and distribute guidance to parents in November; the district will evaluate the pilot at the end of the 202526#8211;26 school year and may adjust future policy based on outcomes and feedback.
