Many teachers, students skip snow day makeups

ST. LOUIS -- It's payback time for all of those snow days this winter -- but not for everyone.

Spring break was scheduled about this time of year for many school districts, but the brutal winter forced so many snow days that some schools are remaining in session to make up the days.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported not everyone is in attendance. Some teachers who made spring break reservations for trips are sticking with plans. That has led to a high number of requests for substitute teachers, leaving some districts to scramble for replacements.

The scenario could crop up again at the end of the school year as schools make up for snow days. In the Ladue School District in St. Louis County, three times as many teachers were out Friday than on a typical school day. The district has tried to accommodate teachers who have nonrefundable airline tickets or other circumstances, district spokeswoman Susan Dielmann said.

It isn't just teachers. The district expects a larger than usual number of student absences for the same reason. Ladue was able to fill all of its substitute requests.

Another St. Louis County district, Parkway, was making up Friday for one of the nine times school was called off for ice and snow. Administrators were able to fill the 185 spots needed, said Joy Torgerson, the district's director of human resources.

Some administrators are looking ahead to similar challenges at the end of the school year.

Missouri allows for some forgiveness of snow days. Districts that have made up the first six missed days are allowed to make up only half of the next eight days.

Fox School District students have been taking to Twitter all winter to pester superintendent Dianne Critchlow about snow days. They generated hundreds of tweets with the hashtag #CallItOffDianne, sometimes writing about road conditions. The district has had 10 snow days this year.

Some are now joking on Twitter that the weather is too nice to be inside at school.

As of now, the last day for the district is May 23, but any more bad weather would have students returning to school after Memorial Day.

Critchlow tweeted on Monday:

"For my #CallItOffDianne followers, I am hoping there are no more snow days! :)"