ECASD Announces Plans for Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs)

Ellwood City Area School District recently released a letter to families announcing Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs).

FIDs allow the district to conduct remote learning when the weather prohibits safe travel to in person learning at the school facilities.

According to Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, the district has been approved to use up to five FIDS during inclement weather conditions. When weather prohibits the safe transportation of students, the District may announce that school is “CLOSED-Flexible Instruction Day.”

“This means that schools will operate remotely as we learned to do during the pandemic closures,” Shipley said. “When an FID is called, students will need to log on to their teacher’s Google Classroom to access their day’s learning activities.”

Shipley said that teachers have been encouraged to review FID day expectations with their students so that everyone knows when to enter the Google Classroom for face-to-face instruction and support, but that if a parent has questions they are welcome to contact their child’s teacher or building principal.
“For students that have difficulty accessing the internet, lesson packets will be made available,” he added.

The district has hot-spots available for students that need access. Families are encouraged to reach out to the teacher and/or principal should a personal hot-spot be needed.

The district will use two-hour delays, Closed – FID day, or Closed to announce the weather emergency learning schedule.

Two-hour delays allow students to enter school two hours after their usual time which permits crews to clear roads, parking lots and sidewalks for safe travel.

FID days require students to participate remotely and do not need to be made up because they count toward the 180 student days.

Closed means that school is closed with no remote learning. These days do need to be made up.

“All morning announcements will be made after careful consideration and contact with PennDOT, our transportation company and local weather services,” Shipley said.