Boyertown students will still be attending classes until June 8 to make up for days missed during the winter.
The school board approved a revised calendar for the 2014-2015 school year at March 24’s meeting, including additional days in June to cover snow and ice cancellations over winter.
Most students will only see the impact on two days, the student day on June 8, and a full day of school on June 2. Graduating seniors will have a practice for their ceremony on Saturday, May 30, ensuring that the graduation will still take place on June 5.
“If student have to work, or have another conflict, we can work something out with them,” Superintendent Richard Faidley said, addressing board member Christine Neiman’s concern about the Saturday practice.
Even with the changes, the district will be applying for five Act 80 exception days from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The days will allow for kindergarten students enrolled in the late session to attend less than the mandatory 180 days this school year. Those students missed more days because of early dismissals caused by inclement weather.
Board member Paul Stengle commented that this is the second consecutive year that the district has had to adjust its calendar due to winter weather cancellations, and suggested that more snow days be built into the school year in the future.
Faidley said that teacher contracts do not allow for extra days, but it could be a discussion at the next collective bargaining negotiations with the union.
He added, “I hope we won’t have to deal with three years in a row of these weather problems. It’s aging me.”
