Monroe school district officials must have breathed a huge sigh of relief this morning when they saw that the overnight snowstorm lacked the punch forecasters said it would contain.
Instead of six inches of snow there was just an inch or two. Certainly not enough to cancel school.
This record-setting snowy winter is on the verge of presenting a calendar quandary for the school district. There already have been five snow days taken this school year by Monroe schools. The district has just one weather Mulligan remaining before it needs to make a serious adjustment to its schedule.
The district already has pushed back its scheduled last day of school to Wednesday, June 11. A teacher inservice day is planned for June 12. Summer school starts Monday, June 16. That means one more snow day would make June 13 that last day of the school year.
But two more snow days? Good question.
The district has options, which were discussed during Monday's school board meeting, but none of them are particularly good answers. Each poses a dilemma for one group or another of teachers, parents or kids.
Superintendent Larry Brown spelled out the choices if the district is forced to modify the calendar:
• Cut short spring break. That would pose problems for families and school personnel that have made vacation plans for the week.
• Make up the remaining school days on Saturdays. With many families busy with extracurricular activities on weekends, this, too, could cause many headaches. Perhaps the district already has considered this, but six-day weeks wouldn't be particularly good for the kids. Better to have Saturday classes on weeks that already have a scheduled day off, or shorter day, in them.
• Starting school days earlier and ending them later to make up the time. This, too, can mess up family schedules, and make for long days for the kids.
Any option is going to require cooperation from the district's teachers. If winter weather forces a scheduling decision, the teachers union should be flexible and work with district administrators to choose the option that works best for students and their families.
To decide what is best for students and families, the district must find a way to canvass those groups - specifically parents. Whether it's a questionnaire sent home with students, or posted online, or some other form of survey, the district should ask parents and students which solution they would prefer.
It might require a little more work by the district now - work that may not even be necessary if the weather cooperates for once this winter. But work now can save a lot of headaches later. No solution will make everyone happy, but more will be satisfied if they are consulted first.
Instead of six inches of snow there was just an inch or two. Certainly not enough to cancel school.
This record-setting snowy winter is on the verge of presenting a calendar quandary for the school district. There already have been five snow days taken this school year by Monroe schools. The district has just one weather Mulligan remaining before it needs to make a serious adjustment to its schedule.
The district already has pushed back its scheduled last day of school to Wednesday, June 11. A teacher inservice day is planned for June 12. Summer school starts Monday, June 16. That means one more snow day would make June 13 that last day of the school year.
But two more snow days? Good question.
The district has options, which were discussed during Monday's school board meeting, but none of them are particularly good answers. Each poses a dilemma for one group or another of teachers, parents or kids.
Superintendent Larry Brown spelled out the choices if the district is forced to modify the calendar:
• Cut short spring break. That would pose problems for families and school personnel that have made vacation plans for the week.
• Make up the remaining school days on Saturdays. With many families busy with extracurricular activities on weekends, this, too, could cause many headaches. Perhaps the district already has considered this, but six-day weeks wouldn't be particularly good for the kids. Better to have Saturday classes on weeks that already have a scheduled day off, or shorter day, in them.
• Starting school days earlier and ending them later to make up the time. This, too, can mess up family schedules, and make for long days for the kids.
Any option is going to require cooperation from the district's teachers. If winter weather forces a scheduling decision, the teachers union should be flexible and work with district administrators to choose the option that works best for students and their families.
To decide what is best for students and families, the district must find a way to canvass those groups - specifically parents. Whether it's a questionnaire sent home with students, or posted online, or some other form of survey, the district should ask parents and students which solution they would prefer.
It might require a little more work by the district now - work that may not even be necessary if the weather cooperates for once this winter. But work now can save a lot of headaches later. No solution will make everyone happy, but more will be satisfied if they are consulted first.
