Back in the day, my generation learned about snow days by listening to the radio.
Westport’s WMMM and Bridgeport’s WICC would go through the list.
It was alphabetical — and agonizing.
Ansonia Public Schools. Bridgeport public schools. Darien public schools. Even Our Lady of Fatima, wherever that was.
Who cared? What about Westport?!
Sometimes they’d be closed. Sometimes they wouldn’t. It was a crapshoot.
Then came a more high-tech method: emails and voicemails.
Still, it was a crapshoot. Longtime superintendent of schools Elliot Landon made it a point of pride to keep Westport schools open.
“Today is Monday, January 26. The Westport Public Schools will be open!” he cackled.
It didn’t matter that schools from here to Buffalo were closed. Suck it up!
Former superintendent of schools Elliot Landon. He is probably smiling because he just announced that schools would be open.
But this is 2026. Social media is everywhere. High school students make full-length documentaries; 8-year-olds create Instagram reels.
So, to announce tomorrow’s snow day — which there was little doubt about, from Friday’s predictions on — Westport Public Schools officials got creative.
Assistant superintendent John Bayers headed to Long Lots Elementary School. He consulted with Leo the Lion — the mascot. They punted.
The decision was left to Long Lots’ staff: teachers, cafeteria workers, custodians, and the school resource officer.
Click here to see their announcement.
So kids: Sleep in!
You don’t have to wake up at 6 a.m., to listen to the radio.
Or the superintendent’s voice.
Screenshot, from the Westport Public Schools video.