PLUMSTED — Changes to the Plumsted Township School District’s 2013-14 calendar were recently made after snow forced schools to be closed on several occasions.
Superintendent of Schools Karen Jones announced on Jan. 28 that three days have been added to the end of the school year. Summer vacation will begin on June 19.
“I recognize that these changes have been difficult for parents and even presented some hardships. Unfortunately, this winter has presented significant challenges with the storms and the timing of their arrival,” Jones wrote in a letter to parents.
By state law, a school district must provide 180 days of instruction for students. Because Plumsted’s schools were closed on Dec. 10, Jan. 3 and Jan. 22 due to snow, Jones said administrators were forced to adjust the calendar.
“The calendar changes have been unavoidable this year,” the superintendent wrote. “The safety of our students and staff is our foremost priority.”
A scheduled delayed-opening day on Jan. 29 was changed to a half-day on Feb. 3. According to Jones, the half-day on Feb. 3 was “directly aligned with the end of the second marking period” so teachers can spend the day grading all students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Although January’s snow days will have a direct impact on when school ends in June, they were not the only time adjustments that had to be made as a result of the weather.
On Jan. 10, buses carrying children to the New Egypt Primary School and the Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School were forced to pull off the road at about 8:30 a.m. due to sudden icy conditions.
Jones said school district administrators directed the bus drivers to take that action after they discussed the situation with police. The buses remained in place until police issued an all-clear alert just after 10 a.m.
For the remainder of the day, student travel between schools was curtailed, the afternoon preschool program was canceled, and half-day preschool and kindergarten classes were given an hour-long extension as a result of the bus travel delays, according to the superintendent.
Jones said additional school closings this winter could result in more days being added to the end of the school year or to classes being held on scheduled days off.
“As always, the safety of our students comes first,” the superintendent said.