School Heating System Fails Again

Why Can’t There Be Remote Learning When There Are Heating Problems At the School?

Nottingham parents were dismayed to learn this evening that the school’s heating system has failed yet again.

At the School Board meeting on December 18 a parent asked why can’t the school schedule remote learning on days the heating system is down? In support of this, she cited ED 306.18 from CaseText, which says the text shown was updated with changes through December 5, 2024.

The school shall have in its school year an additional 60 hours in duration to provide for instructional time lost due to inclement weather or unexpected circumstances, staff development, and parent-teacher conferences. At least 30 of the 60 additional hours shall be available for rescheduling hours lost due to inclement weather or other emergencies. Schools shall use these additional hours to reschedule lost instructional time before requesting a waiver of the amount of instructional time under RSA 189:2, unless extraordinary circumstances exist that would place an unreasonable burden on the school or students such as, but not limited to, substantial building damage;

School Board Chairman Susan Levenson said that the School Board had received guidance from the Superintendent that remote learning was allowed only for weather issues. I contacted Superintendent HasBrouck about this matter. It turns out there are good reasons for confusion.

On December 12, 2024, the regulations were changed. The new regulations are here. These new regulations say

...renumber Ed 306.18, effective 2-19-22 (Document #13356), as Ed 306.15....

So, whenever anyone is referencing ED 306.18, it used to be about something somewhat different from what it is now about.

The new ED 306.18 says:

Ed 306.18 Remote Learning.

(a) All students shall have access to full-year, full-day instruction, in-person as required in RSA 189:1and RSA 189:24. Remote learning shall satisfy the requirement for in-person instruction when conducted in accordance with (c) below.

(b) Remote learning opportunities may include, but not be limited to, blended or hybrid online and inperson, completely online, video-based, internet-based courses of study, or any combination thereof.

(c) Remote learning shall satisfy the requirements of RSA 189:1 and RSA 189:24 under the following conditions:

(1) When inclement weather makes it unsafe to safely transport students to or from in-person instruction;

(2) As an option for a parent or guardian making a request for remote learning; or

(3) As articulated in a parent-approved alternative program approved by the local school board pursuant to Ed 306.17(c).

So, that’s where the guidance is coming from.

Here’s the letter sent to parents this evening: