These days, Superintendent Mark Bedell tracks the forecast and decides when Anne Arundel County school buildings must close for snow — like they did today.

The district announced late last night that students would learn virtually instead, saving the school system from having to make up days in June.

But when Bedell was a kid, virtual learning wasn’t an option, which meant plenty of good old-fashioned snow days — even in his hometown of snowy Rochester.

The county’s schools chief shared some of those memories. His responses are lightly edited for length and clarity.

Winters in upstate New York

Bedell: I grew up on the west side of Rochester in a house with lots of people. When we did get snow, it was always an adventure. We would make igloos and use hot water to turn the snow into little creeks. All kinds of fun stuff.

One time in fifth or sixth grade, there was a blizzard, and we had a couple feet of snow outside. We filled a tub with snow and brought it in the house. We used a machine and actually turned the snow into ice cream. I don’t remember the flavor, but I do remember enjoying it.

No snowblower, no problem

Bedell: We didn’t have a snowblower. There wasn’t that kind of wealth in the house. My cousins and I would get out there and shovel the sidewalk and the front yard.

And I would shovel out space around the basketball hoop so I had enough space to shoot jumpers. Let me tell you, shooting a rock-hard basketball with gloves on your hands isn’t easy.

We did not cancel school a lot. You don’t cancel school when you get a foot of snow in Rochester, New York. Many days, I walked to school in the snow. That might seem like an adventure, but it was just normal for us.

To close or not to close

Bedell: When I became a teacher, I did a stint in Houston. If you get an inch of snow down there, it’s like a state of emergency. I used to think, man, this is kinda weak. We’re really not going to school? What is this? But then I learned that a lot of places don’t have the infrastructure, meaning the salt, the plows, and the supplies, to open safely.

Here, we only reopen when we feel the roads are safe for cars and buses, and when the sidewalks are passable for our walkers.

Frostbitten fingers

Bedell: When I was 6 or 7, we had some terrible weather, and we were off school. I walked to the corner store to buy Hawaiian Punch and Twinkie cupcakes. But I wasn’t wearing any gloves, and by the time I got home, my fingers were frostbitten. I didn’t know any better.

I was crying and my grandmother put me in bed. When I woke up and went looking for the things I bought, I realized someone had taken my stuff. I was so mad.