" I am still puzzled, though, why there would be ten snow days in a calendar. Wouldn’t less often snow storms mean less snow days built in? (not trying to be argumentative, just truly puzzled.)"
Actually no. As you can see, the DC metro area doesn’t get this amount of snow very often but every five or so years, we get something that warrants a name, be it Snowzilla or Jonas. We also know we don’t have the equipment to handle it. The best thing is to build in extra days into the calendar for this and other emergencies. I think MD schools can adjust their calendar to end the school year earlier if they don’t use all the snow days (I can be wrong).
Areas that get more snow storms know how to deal with it and don’t close down.
^^^^
Right. They have the equipment, the salt, the sand. They pretreat the roads. They have large enough crews scheduled for snow removal, and access to enough trucks to make it happen. People know to remove their cars from the streets to aid in the cleanup. Drivers know how to drive in snow, and how it’s different from driving on icy roads or rainy roads.
But it’s important to remember New England can close down. We’ve had no-mail days nearly every winter and even times when the colleges close. Commuters who can’t get to work or can’t park.
And last winter, Boston was a wreck and people were looking at examples of better snow management in Canada.
By March 1, Boston was scrambling to figure out how to finish the school year. Some were looking at a June 26 or 29 end date (crazy.) Same elsewhere. I think most up here only build in 5 days.
I don’t think all the extra days some districts build in are “snow” related. I think MA requires 900 hours of active instruction. This, from Fairfax Co VA says 990.
“Makeup days may be used to ensure 990 hours of instruction. Missed days, delayed openings, and early dismissals must be considered in the calculation of these hours.
State code requires school districts to make up the first five missed days of school, and then requires only every other day of missed school to be made up. Currently, FCPS has the equivalent of 12.7 days (76 hours) built into the calendar.”
@garland right. School here started the third work on August for the students. Teachers did their in service days the week before that. In my district, we no longer have in service full days during the school year…all are in August before the students return. The December vacation is never 2 full weeks. This year, school was a full day on December 23. School resumed on January 4. That was a LONG December break. We used to have a February vacation…it’s now Presidents Day only. School is in session in most places on Veterans Day, with commemorative celebrations as part of the day.
If Good Friday is in April, it is always part of the week off in April.
Last day of school is June 8 or so around here. That leaves PLENTY of time to make up days missed due to weather.
In addition, all school calendars have a provision to take days from that April vacation if the number of snow days exceeds a certain amount before the beginning of March…and that has happened. Families don’t care. They go on vacation anyway. Staff is told…get travel insurance that will cover this issue. The staff is expected to be there IF a day of school is held during the vacation time. A few years ago, there were actually two days take. Away from our April vacation.
I can’t remember any time when the required number of days of school was waived…ever. But I remember several times we were in school until the end of June.
And remember too…our schools do not typically have AC…so extending late into June can be mighty uncomfortable!
FCPS (Fairfax county, VA) may be an outlier with 12.7 extra days built in. It may have to do with the state stipulating hours of school rather than days, and until recently the half day Mondays FCPS had. Going to full day Mondays gave FCPS 75 hours.
Anne Arundel County has five extra days built into their calendar. It’s interesting to find out the superintendent asks for waivers before taking days of Spring Break but the school system always get complaints when they take away Spring Break
@thumper1 --that would be so much better, especially for AP classes! We usually don’t start until after Labor Day (I think it might have started just before it this year for the first time, and that threw off everyone!). There are a ridiculous number of inservice days. Two days of in November for “teachers convention”. Same December break as yours, but another three days off for a February break, which is ridiculous. Good Friday outside of Spring break. Plus, the town decided to have a 183 day year, instead of mandated 180. The 3 snow days are on top of that. If we closed for four days, even though there would still be 182 days (legally fine) the contracts call for days added on in that case.
H as an instructor finds this all ridiculous. And formerly, as a parent, I always thought so, too (the 183 thing is more recent; I think the district is trying to impress the state and improve ratings.)
Our school years are minimally 186 days here for students. Teachers work 190 or so. Some more. State mandate is for 180 days for students, but I’m not sure any district has 180 days only anymore.
I will say…I do miss the February vacation. This year is going to be something. We have a LOT of illness in our school. A LOT. That February break broke that cycle. Kids weren’t in school to spread the virus. This year, we have Presidents’ Day off…and between the no break and the unseasonably warm temps, this virus could linger forever!
If you look at some New England states, some concern about extending seems to be about running into July 4 week (depending on what day it falls on) or families with April break plans. But it’s also extending bus contracts, staff, and other operating costs.
In CT, it’s part of CT School Law. No school year can extend beyond June 30, and no make up days can be held on Saturdays.
If you extend after June 30, you are into a new fiscal and budget year as well.
No one cares about July 4 weekend as far as I can tell! And families take their vacations when they feel like it anyway.
We used to have that full week in February. Now, families just go whenever they feel like it…some go in February, some in March. They just pick their own week…and it isn’t the same week as others pick.
I do tons of make up lessons during Feb and March because of this. It was a lot easier when there was a week off…and most folks scheduled their vacations during that one week.
The school year, and dates of attendance,mand required number of days are set by the boards of education in this state…not the teachers contracts.
So in the event of snow, a board of education gets to decide how and when the days will be made up. As long as this is done before June 30 and not on Saturdays, the staff is expected to be there.
Just came home from dinner out. (NoVa) The weather was so nice today and the roads were clean.
The snow is melting and the restaurant was packed for a Sunday evening. Temperature was in the upper 50’s and I think it is going to be in the 60’s this week. Hoping for a clean February.
Sounds marvelous raclut ! I read today that there is potential for another coastal storm for the mid-lantic area again next week
I have had my fill for the year, personally
All of our snow has melted ( but we only got about 7 " ) Yesterday morning , I heard some birds chirping and it gave a feeling of spring …they were taunting me !
What a nice day today. Trader Joes had tulips and daffodils. Just 4 more weeks till March.
I feel so uplifted as soon as we hit March. The days are getting longer each day. Just need to focus on working out more to buy those nice spring clothes. Nice weather means metro trips to DC, seeing museums, walking by the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms. Seeing all the spring flowers come into bloom and new leaves on the trees. Everything lush and green. Waking up early to sunrise. Spring is my favorite season. (besides dd and I both have spring birthdays)
Can’t wait!
