Choosing FIDs at Unionville

As winter nears, students begin to ask the same question every year: when will be the first Flexible Instruction Day (FID)? Since this is Principal Mr. Pat Crater’s first year leading the school, many are curious about how those decisions will be made.

According to Mr. Crater, the final decision doesn’t come from the principal — it comes from the superintendent. “The superintendent does a great job getting feedback,” he said. “They look at calendars, weather forecasts, and especially road conditions before making a call.” Safety is always the top priority when deciding whether to hold a FID or declare a traditional snow day.

Teachers, Mr. Crater says, are always prepared for these days. “Our teachers are always ready,” he said. “Sometimes the principal will let [teachers] know ahead of time, just to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

While FIDs help students continue learning even when the weather is bad, there’s still room for a little winter fun. “Personally, I’d prefer a snow day when there’s a ton of snow,” Mr. Crater said with a grin. He further elaborated that this is a possibility, so be on the lookout to see if we have a snow day instead of a FID. So this winter, students can expect a mix of both, some online learning when roads are icy, and hopefully a few real snow days to enjoy the season.