Board Debates Designating February Date as Make-up for Snow Days

Discussions continued at the May 24 board of education meeting about the for the upcoming year, and a recommendation was made that the Friday of Presidents Day weekend be expendable in the case of the district once again using all its budgeted snow days.

For the 2011-2012 school year, if all three budgeted snow days are used during the year, the district eliminates days from spring break.

This year, because a fourth snow day was needed, the Monday of spring break was eliminated and students were required to attend school on that day.

For all subsequent years, the Friday of Presidents Day weekend has been allotted as an expendable day if all snow days are used by the end of January. After that date, days are eliminated from spring break.

“I think that’s a great idea, and, if it were my decision, I would do that for the 2011-2012 school year too,” said board member Jeffrey Brookner. “It’s 10 months away, and I don’t think people have already booked vacations for that [February] weekend.”

“I think it’s a bigger disruption to lose a day off in spring break,” he added.

Board member Ann Marie Mead said she believes it would be more logical to require students to attend school on that Friday in February, rather than having them come in on a Monday and then have no school for the rest of the week during spring break.

“And reclaiming a day in February is probably more in line with student attention spans than later in the school year,” said Cheryl Dyer, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

In response to recent concerns from residents that communication has not been great between the district and parents, board member Cindy Cullen said the board should be proactive to spread the word of this idea and possible change to the calendar.

“This is an issue that always get a lot of comments later in the year when parents make their vacation schedules,” she said. “Maybe we should go out and be proactive, and try to solicit comments from residents.”

Board president Evan Lerner said he would favor putting the discussion on the agenda for the June 14 meeting to allow residents an opportunity to discuss their thoughts on the possible change.

But another concern among board members was what to do if extra snow days have to be used after that February date. Board member Jill Gladstone asked how the district could avoid removing days from spring break, but many said they would be opposed to moving graduation back, and the option to change the date of Project Graduation, at least for next year, is not on the table.

“We looked into scheduling a second date for Project Graduation in case of this, and the venue could not because they were already booked for next year,” said Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder.

Board member Lynne Hurley said she is opposed to extending graduation because of plans that are made in advance, including by parents who request time off from work and extended family members who may have to make plane reservations to attend.

Aside from the question of snow days, the calendar for the 2011-2012 school year remains fairly unchanged. One of the bigger changes in subsequent years' calendars is the elimination of a half day on the first day of school.

A discussion of the calendars for the next three years is expected to be on the agenda for the June 14 meeting, which will be held at the .