Schools Struggling To Find A Solution To Number Of Snow Days
BOSTON (CBS) - Schools are facing a calendar crunch and they are running out of ways to make up for school days lost to the snow.
Quincy has had eleven snow days so far this winter, which is well beyond the five snow days built into the academic calendar. The school year was supposed to end June 16th and the city can only extend school to the 30th which will leave Quincy one day short.
Now, they're now trying to find a creative solution.
"Teachers lose momentum and kids lose momentum when you have that many snow days," said Deborah Holden, a Brookline parent.
The state requires that schools have 180 days of schools each academic year. Many schools in the region are scrambling to meet that number after having to cancel so many days due to the heavy snowfall.
"We are six days beyond that," said Quincy Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Richard DeCristofaro.
Quincy schools had their request for a three day waiver denied by the commissioner of education. Unless they come up with a new plan, their last day of school is June 30th.
"The other option we are looking at for the department to agree upon is extending our school days 30 minutes and it could be four days a week," said Dr. DeCristofaro.
Catholic Memorial is extending their school day by 15 minutes so they can get out in mid-June.
Boston has had eight snow days and their last day is also June 30th. However, they have considered going to school on Saturdays or even for part of April vacation.
"At this point peeling away from vacation - families and staff and teachers have plans," said Denise Taylor of Boston Public Schools.
Some school districts, like Brookline, actually sent surveys home to parents to get their opinions on how to handle all the snow days.
"I thought if they added a couple hours a couple of times a week," Brookline parent Suzie Souza suggested.
Whatever the case may be, everyone hopes the snow days are over for this year at least.