SNOW DAY DEBACLE SPARKS DAY OFF SCRAMBLE - ISN'T THERE A BETTER WAY?

So here we go again with snow days, or the lack of them, throwing a wrench into vacation plans and parental schedules.


Yes, because the school district included three snow days in the schedule and only used two, we need to use the third for some reason to make sure students are only in class for a minimum number of days. 


This notice on the school district site:

Notification of Revised School Calendar for May 2012 Barring an unexpected emergency, the following schools will be CLOSED on Friday, May 25, 2012: Montrose Learning Center Maplewood Middle School South Orange Middle School Clinton Elementary School Jefferson Elementary School  Seth Boyden Elementary School  South Mountain School (Main Building only)  Tuscan Elementary School The following schools will be IN SESSION on Friday, May 25, 2012:  Columbia High School  Marshall Elementary School  South Mountain Annex (Main Building will be closed)  Note: Friday May 25, 2012, is the scheduled give back day for schools that did not use the three allotted emergency school closing days. All district schools were closed for two days this year (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1). However, Columbia High School, Marshall and South Mountain Annex were each closed a third day, and therefore will be in session on May 25. All other schools will be closed on May 25, unless there is an emergency closing between now and then.

So for most schools, Friday, May 25 will be a day off. A last-minute change that will require many parents to scramble for day care and child care and disrupt student lives again.


So why not just end the school year a day early?


Good question. Due to a state law requiring high school graduation to occur within a specific number of days after the school year ends, the Columbia High graduation must be held on the date previously set: June 20.


Why not just move the graduation up a day?


Also a good question. Not possible as it is held at Essex County College and scheduled well in advance. To change it would be difficult as many graduations are also held there.


The school district sent me this expalnation:

Each year, we build contingencies into the district calendar since emergency closings are, by their very nature, unpredictable.  NJ State law requires that school districts provide 180 student days.  We built 3 additional days into the calendar for emergency closings.  The printed calendars outline what will happen if we need to use more or fewer days:

Make-up Days: If schools are closed for inclement weather or other emergencies for more than the three allotted days, the first Make up Day will be during Spring Recess beginning with April 2, 2012, working forward to April 5, 2012 as needed; or at the end of the school year if emergency closings occur after April 6, 2012. If only two emergency school closing days are used, schools will be closed on Friday, May 25, 2012.

The schedule for the end of the year is very complicated, with final exams, moving on ceremonies, end of year trips, graduation and prom in the high school, etc.  Therefore, we extend Memorial Day weekend by one day rather than trying to end the school year earlier.

So folks, we are stuck at the whim of stupid state laws.


And, one must believe, the teacher's union has some limit in this a well, contracted to work only a set number of days.