Snowstorm Causes Board of Education to Rearrange School Calendar

In a 7-2 vote, the Board of Education decided to add three days back onto the school calendar at their meeting Thursday night after snowstorm Alfred caused Rocky Hill Public Schools to be closed for five days. Democrat Maria Mennella and Republican Frank Morse voted against the motion.

In the plan approved by the Board of Education, Feb. 23 and 24 would be made into full school days, instead of vacation days, and a teachers' professional development day on March 23 would be moved to the end of the year.

Without snow days, the school year will end on June 18 for the students and on June 19 for the teachers. This plan would allow the Board of Education to have nine days to use for snow days before taking away from the April vacation.

"We don't know what this winter holds," said new Board of Education Member John Bedlack. "We may still be back here looking at April vacation. We are dealing with the situation as it is now. Anything could happen." 

Donna Platt of Old Main Street reminded the Board of Education that the school buildings can get very hot at the end of June and classes had to be cancelled a few years ago because of a heat wave.

According to a survey conducted by the school system and letters sent from students, an "overwhelming majority" wanted to have the February vacation eliminated.

Bedlack stated 47% of the people who responded to the survey asked that February vacation be eliminated. He added that no other categories were even close. He said if they took away the April Vacation, it would give teachers and students only one day off from the middle of February to the end of the year. 

"That's a long stretch."

Bedlack said that he did not want to take days from both the February and April vacations.

“I think we need to make the choice and not disrupt both vacations.”

The elimination of days from February vacation would allow for more study time on the Connecticut Mastery Test, which is in March, he added.

However, several parents who spoke on Thursday asked the Board of Education not to eliminate all of February vacation, due to family vacations.

Maryann Oostendorp, who planned a vacation in February for the first time, told the Board of Education that their school plan shows that they add days to the end of June and then, take away from April vacation.

"It is hard to make up that work," Oostendorp, of Whitewood Drive said. "I don't want my kids to miss school."

"We are not going to please everyone," Board of Education Member Rene "Skip" Rivard said. He added that people who have already planned vacations should be supplied with school work.

Parent Janice Berg suggested making Martin Luther King Day a full day of school with specialized curriculum, which was supported by several parents and board members including Morse. He said the students would be coming off an extended vacation and felt the day of school "would be a teaching moment."

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey A. Villar disagreed with changing Martin Luther King Day.

“I do think we should consider the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. I think it is meaningful day. While I do agree there is an educational potential and we could change curriculum for the day, it would be more difficult than it sounds.”  

However, Villar said he was unaware of any state statutes that make schools take Martin Luther King Day off.

Villar presented the Board of Education with three recommendations for rearranging the school calendar. One plan would have moved the teachers' professional development day on March 23 to the end of the school year and made the final day of school June 20. Another plan would have eliminated all of February vacation, expect for Presidents Day, and moved the teachers' professional development day on March 23 to the end of the year.

In other news, Raffaella A. Calciano-Coler was named the Board of Education Chairwoman in a 6-3 vote. Rivard received three votes from himself, Bedlack and Ronald Robbins, who nominated him.  Rivard was named vice-chairman and Morse was appointed secretary.