Education Matters: How do school officials decide when to cancel classes?
While Belleville public schools and other districts held in-person instruction on Tuesday, some canceled classes, either pivoting to e-learning or calling a traditional snow day that will have to be made up later in the year.
This makes it the perfect time to recap the ins and outs of snow days and e-learning days before diving into other school news.
How do schools decide to cancel for snow?
There are a variety of factors districts consider when deciding whether to cancel in-person instruction.
For O’Fallon Township High School District 203, these include the weather and road conditions at school start and end times, including temperatures, Superintendent Beth Shackelford said. Whether buses can complete their routes safely and on time is another major consideration, she said.
“Safety of students and staff is the priority,” Belleville School District 118 Superintendent Ryan Boike said, adding the district also looks at the condition of the schools’ parking lots and facilities, along with sidewalks and bus stops. “Our goal is to be in-person, if it is possible to do so safely.”
East St. Louis School District 189 also weighs these factors, district spokesperson Sydney Stigge-Kaufman said. While superintendents make the final decision, they consult with their transportation partners, facilities and maintenance experts, and other area superintendents, according to Shackelford and Stigge-Kaufman. Boike and Shackelford said they also coordinate with the city.
A rundown on e-learning:
The Illinois State Board of Education states that an e-learning day must consist of at least five hours of instruction or schoolwork, and a district may use a maximum of five e-learning days per school year.
School districts that choose to implement e-learning programs must hold a public hearing for their plan, which must be approved annually by the regional office of education or the district’s Intermediate Service Center, according to the state board.
Shackelford said whether the district calls a traditional snow day (as it did Tuesday) or an e-learning day often depends on timing.
According to District 203’s e-learning plan, an e-learning day can only be used if the decision to cancel in-person instruction is made no later than 8 p.m. the previous evening, allowing teachers time to prepare, Shackelford said. Ideally, the district will notify students of the potential for an e-learning day the school day before, ensuring students have all the necessary technology and supplies at home.
While East St. Louis District 189 also has an approved e-learning plan, its current policy is to use traditional snow days first, then e-learning days if needed, Stigge-Kaufman said.
Help Belleville East High School “Make a Change”
For 20 years, Belleville East High School’s “Make a Change” program has provided students in financial need with gift cards, shopping sprees, clothing, coats and more.
So many students have been helped by “Make a Change” over the years, including those battling cancer or other illnesses, students experiencing homelessness, those who have lost parents, and others living in poverty. In 2024 alone, the program helped more than 100 students.
The need continues to grow, so “Make a Change” is seeking additional community support ahead of its Dec. 18 shopping trip. If you’re interested in donating, make checks payable to Belleville East Make A Change, Attn: Michelle Senecyzn, and mail them to Belleville East High School, 2555 West Blvd., Belleville, IL 62221.
Contact Senecyzn with questions at mseneczyn@bths201.org or call 618-222-3741.
“We are extremely proud of what we do to help Belleville East students and are grateful to have community members like you play such a huge role in the program,” a letter from the group reads. “The success of this program is only made possible through the generosity and support of the community.”
Honor Roll
- As per usual, we have even more students of the month to recognize. Congrats to Aubrey Keck, Millstadt Consolidated Schools’ November Optimist Student of the Month. Collinsville High School’s November students of the month are Daniel Gutierrez and Vanessa Alcazar, and the school’s senior of the month is Griffin Crask-Weeks. You may also recognize Crask-Weeks as the district’s student school board member.
- Granite City Elks Lodge 1063 recognizes students in a special student of the month program. Late last month, it recognized Granite City High School seniors Alex Escobar and Myla Layne as October students of the month. Each received a $100 U.S. savings bond and certificate from the Elks. “Nominees are judged on multiple achievements including leadership skills, good moral character, community involvement, extracurricular activities, honors and award(s) and scholastic ability,” a news release states. Read more about Escobar and Layne’s impressive feats on the district’s website.
- Coolidge Junior High School 7th grader Brantley Welmon received a positive office referral. Instead of pocketing a $10 bill he found in the hallway, he turned it in.
- We can’t forget about our smaller star students, though! Freeburg 70’s Landon Dontigney was recognized at its November board meeting for spreading kindness at the Primary Center. “He shared candy with a peer, offered positive encouragement and made another student feel appreciated by presenting them with a card and a hug,” a district Facebook post states.
- Freeburg District 70 honored music teacher Stephanie Ketchum for being the statewide Turkey Grange Teacher of the Year. “Students and band members performed in her honor, and a heartfelt video featuring former students highlighted the incredible impact Mrs. Ketchum has had over the years,” a district Facebook post reads.
- You may have seen Signal Hill math interventionist teacher Stacey Henke on TV recently, since she was honored with the Fox 2/KPLR 11 and Weber Chevrolet Tools for Teachers award. She was presented with a $500 check that the station said she can use in her classroom.
- Continuing educator congratulations, pre-K teacher Megan Rauh is Pontiac William Holliday School District’s November employee of the month, and Maryville Elementary 4th grade teacher Amanda Curry is Collinsville School District 10’s November 2025 Educator of the Month.
- Collinsville High School Latin Students placed first overall at the Illinois Junior Classical League South Convention in November, which Latin teacher James Stark said was the school’s most impressive showing.
School and community holiday events
- Santa will be at Ellis Elementary the morning of Saturday, Dec. 6. The “Donuts with Santa” event will run from 9-11 a.m. and will include crafts, donuts (of course), photos with Santa and Santa storytime at 10:45 a.m. Tickets will be $5 per person at the door, and kiddos can shop and wrap $2 gifts at Santa’s Cottage.
- Wolf Branch Elementary School is hosting “Breakfast with Santa - Pancakes and Pajamas” from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Fill your belly, take selfies with Santa and craft if you’re feeling creative. Tickets are available at the door for $12. Don’t miss the chance to give back; bring along non-perishable food items for the Community Interfaith Food Pantry.
- The Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce’s annual Movie Night With Santa is also Saturday, Dec. 6 at Skyview Drive-In. Snuggle up to “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Shrek the Halls.” Photos with Santa run from 4-6 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis, and the first movie starts at 6 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance online at bit.ly/49RrfYm.
- Granite City High School has two upcoming concerts to get you in the holiday spirit. The Winter Band Concert will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 in the high school gym. The following day, also at 7 p.m., is the Granite City Winter Jazz and Percussion Concert. Admission is free for children 5 and younger, $3 for students and $5 for adults. District staff can attend with a guest for free with their district ID.
- Of course, don’t forget Santa’s House in downtown Belleville (24 Public Square). Hours fluctuate the closer it gets to Christmas, so be sure to check bellevillesantahouse.com when planning your visit.
Other dates to keep in mind
- O’Fallon Panthers and future Panther families, learn about the high school district’s ongoing facilities assessments and potential solutions, and, most importantly, make your voice heard from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at a “Conversations Over Coffee” meeting in the Panther Center on the Smiley Campus.
- A professional therapist will give a lowdown on childhood worry and anxiety – what is “normal,” when and how to seek help and what parents can do – at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 in the Emge Junior High Cafeteria, 7401 Westchester Dr. in Belleville. RSVP online via Google Form at bit.ly/4p9bPDj. Child care is available on site.
