Students in Brentwood, Long Island's largest school district, are learning from home for the second day in a row due to ongoing safety concerns about the roads, sidewalks and bus stops following Monday's blizzard. Brentwood Superintendent of Schools Wanda Ortiz-Rivera said in a letter to the community that school officials conducted a thorough review of neighborhood conditions after holding a remote day on Wednesday. "While some areas have improved, there are still a number of streets with significant snow accumulation, narrow roadways with cars parked along snowbanks and bus stops that remain heavily covered," she wrote. "At this time, we cannot ensure that every walking route and bus stop provides a safe and secure space for our children." Ortiz-Rivera said the concern was for both students who walk to school, who would have to be in the road with many areas still impassable and for buses that could have difficulty navigating narrow streets. "At this time, we cannot ensure that every walking route and bus stop provides a safe and secure space for our children," Ortiz-Rivera wrote. The decision comes after students were off last week for winter break and follows traditional snow days on Monday and Tuesday due to the storm. Some parents applauded the decision online, thanking the district for prioritizing student safety, while others are upset, trying to figure out childcare and how they can get to work.

The district said the Building and Grounds Department and Safety Team have been working around the clock to prepare the schools for a safe return, but officials are now calling on the community for help.

Ortiz-Rivera said she needs people to clear out sidewalks and bus stops near where they live "to ensure students have a safe place to stand and wait." The letter did not comment on a plan for Friday, only saying "we remain hopeful that we will resume in-person instruction very soon."