Outside Learning Projects Could Be Used To Make Up Snow Days

BRAINTREE, MA — As it stands, every school in Braintree but Ross Elementary and South Middle will have their last day of school on June 25, with the other two getting out on two and three days later. School officials, however, are hoping to use unconventional means to get all students out for summer on the same day.

The school committee this week looked at the prospect of using blizzard bags and outside class learning projects as ways to avoid making up days lost to poor weather. If approved, teachers at Ross and South Middle would assign work that could take the place of a day of learning.

“Right now the goal would be to align Ross and South to the regular calendar the other schools are on,” Superintendent Frank Hackett said.

The outside thinking will be needed as the school district is legally obligated to have 180 days of learning. During the winter of 2015, school officials assigned a projected on Braintree’s 375th anniversary to take the place of a day of school after the state denied a waiver that would have exempted the school district from a day of class.

Assistant Superintendent James Lee said schools in Wakefield and Burlington are already doing learn anywhere projects to avoid making up snow days.

If successful, the two schools would have their last day on June 25 like the other schools.

“I think this is creative, strategic, I think this continues to promote the high quality of education being offered. I think we can get the result everyone will be pleased with so we can get out June 25,” Mayor Joseph Sullivan said.

The recent March storms have caused school districts in the area to scramble to make up days. Hackett said that school on Saturday, Good Friday, and April Break are not being discussed.

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