In some ways, the coronavirus crisis has created a snowball effect for weather-related school cancellations.

Pre-COVID-19, wintry weather typically resulted in an official snow day — a day off from school for kids to be free of studies and to enjoy a day in the elements, perhaps shoveling sidewalks or building snowmen.

“Every kid deserves the thrill of a snow day,” said Millville resident Lisa Ann Bird, a parent of children in the Indian River School District.

But during the pandemic, hybrid learning — a combination of in-school and remote instruction — and full-remote learning have created a snow daze of sorts.

Some Downstate Delaware districts are continuing remote learning — even when the weather outside is frightful — while others are choosing to close all together during those times.

Though the Lake Forest School District has snow days built into its calendar, “we do not want to miss any days if we can help it,” Superintendent Steven Lucas said.

The district took snow days Feb. 2 and 11 “because we know not every family in our district is fully connected to the Internet,” Mr. Lucas said.

“We did not want any students to be at a disadvantage by not being able to shift to remote learning.”

Also, the superintendent said, “Our team is working on what the next steps will be in the event of another weather-related event this winter.”

In Smyrna, the school district has taken one traditional snow day and has shifted to virtual sessions when inclement weather impacts in-person learning, Superintendent Patrik Williams said.

“We have extra hours built in to our student calendar, so they will not have to make up any time,” he said. “Staff are able to telework and instruct virtually from home, as well.”

While there’s no specific policy, according to Mr. Williams, “our practice this year is to offer virtual instruction in lieu of in-person learning on inclement winter weather days with the exception of that one traditional snow day we had planned to call this winter. This is the case for all students, prekindergarten through grade 12.”

When the weather does not allow students to arrive in person, “we advertise via telephone and online messaging, as well as in partnership with various media outlets to announce virtual instructional days when the weather is snowy/icy,” Mr. Williams said.

“We also try to let our educators know at least a day in advance that the weather is looking tough on a particular date and to prepare for a pivot to virtual learning.”

With its hybrid learning model, the Caesar Rodney School District has had no snow days, spokesman Mike Williams said.

“There have been a few days where students that were scheduled to do the in-person learning model for that day have been required to adjust to remote learning instead,” he said. “Students scheduled for remote learning on those days have maintained that model.”

He added, “Currently, when there is a weather condition that prevents in-school attendance, all students are moved to the remote-learning model for the day.”

The Seaford School District is following a similar plan.

“This year, we have no delays or snow days,” said Seaford School District spokesman Jason Cameron. “If the weather is inclement, … we pivot to remote instruction for all students.”

North of Seaford, there’s a similar scenario in the Woodbridge School District, home to just under 2,500 students in grades pre-K through 12.

“It’s not going to be a rule of thumb, but, when we can, we will switch over to remote. But there could be times where we just call snow days,” said Woodbridge Superintendent Heath Chasanov. “If we get a major snow, with power outages and things like that, we’re not going to make kids have a remote day. It’s really going to depend on each situation and what is going on that day. But we are going to take advantage of having remote days.”

It’s not an official policy, Mr. Chasanov said.

“We’ll look at each situation and try to do what’s best. The philosophy is to not have to make up days, and we now have the technology and the ability to do it. And folks are much more comfortable teaching that way. If we can, we will go remote,” he said. “But we do reserve the right to still call a snow day.”

Lorrie Russell of Bridgeville said she wishes her children would still get a day off or two.

“I feel my kids should be able to enjoy the snow days,” she said. “However, Woodbridge requires remote learning.”

In the Indian River School District, the largest in Sussex County with more than 10,000 students, it’s just like old times. When inclement weather warrants it, the district will call off school across the board for students and staff.

“We are handling snow days this year as we normally do, meaning schools will be closed for all students and staff if conditions are unsafe. This includes remote learners,” said IRSD spokesman David Maull. “In regards to the remote-learning option, almost all teachers conduct remote teaching from their school classrooms. Many may not be equipped to provide the same learning activities from home if they cannot travel to school due to snow.”

Cape Henlopen School District has a tiered approach to weather-related school cancellations, as announced by Superintendent Robert Fulton.

For a single-day cancellation, there is no school for students.

In multiple-day cancellations, there is no school for the first day. A second-day cancellation would be an asynchronous day, during which teachers post assignments remotely on Schoology or Seesaw.

For a third-day cancellation and beyond, the district will employ a synchronous day. Teachers will conduct synchronous instruction; although in certain circumstances, instruction may be asynchronous.

During multi-day cancellations at Cape, weather severity will be considered, and expectations will be communicated at that time.

Meanwhile, Sussex Technical School District is playing it by ear.

“Our practice on inclement-weather days has evolved, but it depends on the specific circumstances,” said Sussex Tech spokesman Dan Shortridge. “We have the capability to operate remotely, but that will be a case-by-case decision. Our staff is prepared to work remotely from their homes if needed.”

The Laurel School District had several inclement-weather days built into its 2020-21 calendar.

“We have had to call two inclement weather days thus far, which resulted in no school for students or staff,” said Laurel Superintendent Dr. Shawn Larrimore.

“Staff were informed that when these inclement-weather days were exhausted, any subsequent experiences with inclement weather would result in full-remote days.

“Going forward, we will have one to two inclement-weather days built into our calendar — and they will be reserved for extreme weather/power outages,” Dr. Larrimore said. “All other days that are determined to be a risk to safety of staff and students will be a full-remote day.”

In Seaford, weather factors into where teachers are based.

“Depending on the severity of the weather, a decision is made on teachers reporting to school to teach or being able to teach from home,” said Mr. Cameron.

The Woodbridge School District is currently operating on a shorter instructional day, which all but nullifies the merit of morning delays.

“The other thing that makes it a little more difficult this year, because of the way our schedule is, we have a five-and-a-half-hour instructional day,” Mr. Chasanov said. “In the past, (some) days … we might have gone like on a two-hour delay. But that really doesn’t make a lot of sense. There are times where instead of, for example, a two-hour delay, we will just do a full-remote day.”

Woodbridge has utilized the total-remote switch several times so far this school year, both before and after the holiday break.

“Everybody just logs in at the same time. We shift to remote. We’ve done it a few times during the year. Each school has their own schedule that they follow, and the kids will follow their remote schedule,” said Mr. Chasanov.

“There are going to (be) some issues. There is flexibility. Because there is no school, maybe the kid has to go somewhere and where they end up doesn’t have Wi-Fi. There is going to be flexibility in those kinds of situations.”