Snow Days Have Little Effect on Local Schools

This winter has not only taken a toll on our backs while shoveling, its also taken a toll on local education. Snow days and delays have become somewhat commonplace this year, but school administrators in both East Windsor and Windsor Locks maintain students will not be affected much.

Despite East Windsor having its seventh school cancellation of the year Tuesday, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Theresa Kane said no changes have been made to the calendar.

Kane said in a telephone interview Tuesday that the latest snow day will be made up by having school on May 13, which was originally planned as a professional development day for teachers.

"We will hold school on May 13 and have the professional development day at the end of the year," Kane said.

There is no cost to the school district for postponing the development day, Kane said, as no consultants were contracted.

"We were doing the professional development in-house with our own staff," Kane said.

As such, the last day of school for students is June 26; the last day for teachers is June 27, according to Kane.

Graduation is still set for Friday, June 21, Kane said.

If there are any other school closings, Kane said that days could be taken from April break.

Unlike East Windsor, Windsor Locks' public school calendar has been extended a bit.

The last day of school in Windsor Locks was initially scheduled for June 13, but several snow days have pushed that date back a week to June 21, according to Superintendent Wayne Sweeney.

Despite the extra days of school, Sweeney said school curriculum, testing and budgets will mostly be unaffected.

"The assessments will all be done in May, and the results will be back the first of June, so it'll have some impact on finals at the high school...," said Sweeney Tuesday.

Windsor Locks High Seniors, however, will graduate one day early, said Sweeney.

"Graduation will be on June 20," Sweeney said.