East Windsor School Officials Change 2011-12 Academic Calendar

Due to the unusual need to use eight snow days early in the academic year, East Windsor Public Schools officials have changed the school calendar.

Because of Tropical Storm Irene school started two days later than scheduled in September, and the power outages caused by the October 29 snowstorm resulted in another six days of  lost class days.

 Superintendent of Schools Theresa Kane said the state commissioner of education doesn’t have an appetite to allow school systems to seek waivers of the required 180 school year yet.

Kane said she’s worked with union and non-union employees to change the scheduled in a way that allows the schools system to meet the 180 day requirement and have some wiggle room if the winter weather causes more closings.

"Everyone is in agreement," Kane said.

The board of education on Thursday approved the changes.

Kane said she knows changing a calendar that’s already been agreed upon might cause hardships for some people. But by making the changes now, they hope it will enough advance notice for people to alter their plans, she added.

Under the new calendar, students will have a half-day of school the Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday. Originally as a full day of professional development for teachers, students will have January 17 as a shortened day rather than a full day off, and teachers will have a half day of professional development.

While teacehers will lose about five hours of professinal development for the year, they are still one hour ahead of what is called for in their contract officials said.

"We thought this is a good compromise," Kane said.

The February break, except for Presidents’ Day has been eliminated. Kane said staff members like having school on those days because they are just before the CMTs and the CAPTs testing in March, Kane said.

The April vacation has not been affected by the changes, Kane said.

Another day originally scheduled professional development day on May 14, has been changed to a shortened class day with a half day for the teachers’ training. The last day of school has been changed to June 18.

Board Chairman John Pica-Sneeden said he had received emails from people saying school officials were doing nothing about the missed school days.

“Obviously we were,” Pica-Sneeden said. “Because of the teacher’s contract, they have to be informed before we can add or subtract days.”