Beaverton Changes School Calendar to Restore Lost Days

The snow and ice storms that passed through the region earlier this month not only wreaked havoc on the roads, they threw the school year into chaos for several districts.

Beaverton plans for two snow days a year. So far, they have had nine, meaning lost instructional time.

Now, they have a solution.

"We appreciate the many suggestions that we received from students, staff, parents and community," District Superintendent Don Grotting wrote in a letter to students and families.

"Some of the suggested options included adding minutes to the student day, adding days in June, eliminating professional development and grading days, using President’s Day as a student day, eliminating all or a portion of spring break and converting finals’ schedules and eliminating conferences."

In the end, Grotting wrote, the district decided to restore six instructional days for students and extending the first semester by one week, effective immediately.

"It is important to note that eliminating critical time for teachers to participate in professional development, meet with students and parents and assess student progress has been a painful decision," Grotting wrote.

"t also impacts the quality of instruction for our students and communication with parents."

Grotting said that the changes also mean that: Report cards will be sent home later than normal; schools will not provide conference times at the elementary and middle school levels; and high school students will have full days during finals’ weeks, as these days will be student contact days for the remainder of the school year.

The superintendent ended his letter by pointing out it's still winter and it could snow again. If there are more closures, he said, they will re-evaluate.

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