East Granby Board of Education Considers Snow Days And School Days

East Granby public schools have used six snow days – five regular school days and one faculty day -- raising questions about how to make up any additional cancellations this year.

The East Granby Board of Education addressed the impact of this year's winter weather on the school calendar during a meeting Monday night.  In addition to the six snow days there had been three 90-minute delays and one early dismissal this year. (Another 90-minute delay was called Tuesday.)

As of now, June 24 marks the 182nd day of school for East Granby.  Superintendent of Schools Christine Mahoney said that, in accordance with district policy, school will extend through June before snow days will take away from East Granby's April vacation. 

Mahoney pointed out that public schools must be in session for at least 180 days, but cannot go past June 30. She added that school sessions cannot be made up on the weekends. 

“We can’t choose a Saturday to make up a snow day, we can’t choose a Sunday to make up a snow day,” Mahoney said. She also told the board that the remainder of a half day of school cannot be used to make up school days lost to inclement weather. 

“At this point, I’m thinking we should stay with the policy that we go until June 30, which is possible this year,” Mahoney said. “And then, if we need to, we can take from the front end of April vacation.”

Mahoney said the decision to make up days during April vacation must be made by April 1, 2011. 

Board member Michele Holt said one concern with the plan is that school buildings are not air conditioned, an issue in summer months.  Building temperatures would not be an issue in April.  Days taken from April would, however, affect existing vacation plans, Holt added.

“Vacation plans are significant,” she said. 

With the chance of more snow days, the board decided to revisit the snow day policy at its next meeting, on Feb. 28, and to consider taking days from April vacation before going all the way through the month of June. 

Board members said they hope members of the community will come forward at the next meeting to raise concerns and/or questions on taking days from April vacation, versus continuing school through the month of June. 

“We’ll look at putting the policy on the next meeting and see what we can do,” Chairman Jeff Clark said. 

The next meeting of the Board of Education is slated for Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Board of Education Conference Room at the Allgrove School.