PRINCETON: This school year extended to June 25

The Princeton school board on Tuesday extended the school year for students until June 25 to account for all the days they have lost to snow-related closings.

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
   The Princeton school board on Tuesday extended the school year for students until June 25 to account for all the days they have lost to snow-related closings.
   Had there been no snow days, the last day of school for students would have been June 19, a Thursday.
   ”I don’t know whether anyone’s noticed that we’ve had a couple of snow days this year,” school board President Timothy Quinn said wryly during the board meeting.
   In all, the district has had six snow days since Dec.10 — three of them in February — one early dismissal and three delayed openings.
   ”We’ve had quite a winter,” said Superintendent of Schools Stephen Cochrane.
   To make up some of that missed time, schools were open on Feb.14, originally a professional development day, and then on Presidents Day.
   ”It’s not as easy as just saying let’s have school,” said Mr. Quinn. “There are professional associations to be consulted. Then there are transportation issues” and food service issues.
   Mr. Quinn, also thanking parents and students for their patience, said the school board was “extremely grateful to see everyone get on board with this plan.”
   By law, students must be in school for 180 days.
   The revised school calendar provides a full week of spring break starting on March 17. That rescinded an earlier decision to have students come into school two days that week as way of making up the missed time.
   Mr. Cochrane said parents, teachers and others expressed concern that attendance during those days “would be sparse and therefore learning limited.”