Board Votes to Eliminate Three Days of Winter Vacation

A recommendation from Dr. Karen List, Superintendent of West Hartford Schools, that three days of winter vacation be eliminated was passed unanimously by the West Hartford Board of Education Tuesday night.

"We've done this after a great deal of debate and soul searching," said Elin Katz in presenting the recommendation. Eliminating days from the April vacation would not allow for instructional time to be made up in time for testing that takes place in the spring.

"If we wait and add everything to the end, we will find ourselves well into the end of June," Katz said.

West Hartford's public schools have already experienced six "emergency closings" as a result of the October 29 storm and power outage. If no changes to the vacation schedule are made, the end of the 2011-2012 school year would already be extended until June 25, even before the winter snowstorm season begins. This allows for the scheduled 182 instructional days. The State of Connecticut requires 180 instructional days.

Under the revised calendar, schools will end on June 20. Changes in the semesters and quarters are also delineated in the revised calendar, with the second quarter ending Jan. 31, third quarter on April 9, and last quarter June 20.

The administration understands that many have already arranged for trips during February. However, family-initiated travel and school trips are excused absences. "There are no great solutions, but this seems to be the best of a lot of unfortunate options," Katz said.

According to the superintendent's office, over the past ten years the average number of days that school has been closed due to snow is 2.7. "Given that we might anticipate approximately three 'snow days' this winter, it is recommended that the school calendar be revised to reflect that February 22, 23, and 24, 2012 be changed from winter vacation days to instructional school days," List wrote in her recommendation to the Board of Education.

West Hartford Public Schools will determine the date of high school graduation on April 2, once the winter snowstorm season has ended.