Every winter, students across the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) are expected to find a way to get to school safely and on time. For many students, snowy conditions present a real barrier to getting an education when the streets and sidewalks near their homes are not cleared well enough in the morning. As one of the snowiest cities in the United States, Syracuse has the opportunity to become a model for how cities can make access to education more equitable for city school students during the winter months.

We are students from Henninger High School working with the Data Warriors, a student-led initiative focused on doing research on social justice and environmental issues in Syracuse. Henninger is home to a diverse student body, including students from many neighborhoods, immigrant and refugee families, and many different racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Many of us rely on walking, public transportation, family members, or shared rides to get to school.

This year, our Data Warriors group at Henninger investigated potential inequities around municipal snow removal services in Syracuse and its impact on students' ability to get to school on time. We used public data, maps, and survey responses from Henninger students to better understand this issue. Our research thus far suggests that students who live on streets that are plowed less often may be late more often to school than those who live on streets that are plowed more reliably.

With this information, we are asking the City of Syracuse to work toward a more equitable snow removal plan that better supports Syracuse City School District students. Specifically, we are asking the City of Syracuse to:

1. Use SCSD data in snow removal planning: Work with SCSD to better understand where students live, how they get to school, and which areas may need earlier or more consistent snow removal.
2. Increase support for snow removal across neighborhoods: Make sure there are enough plow drivers, equipment, and resources to reach more streets earlier and more often, especially in neighborhoods where students face greater barriers getting to school.
3. Share more information on snow routes and prioritization: Provide easy-to-understand information about how snow removal is prioritized across all Syracuse neighborhoods, so families and students know what to expect during winter storms and can plan accordingly.