Making up is hard to do
Area school districts juggling schedules, make-up daysBy Jodelle Greiner
Dodging snowstorms to get class time in has become an art in itself for area school districts this school year.
Both Lynd and Lakeview were scheduled to have class Monday to make up for days when the weather forced school to be cancelled - only to have the weather force that day's classes to be cancelled.
"We will probably have to make up the 'make-up' day," said Lynd School Principal Jason Swenson. "This will be decided by the Superintendent (Bruce Houck) and the board."
"We will make one up on Monday, April 5th, and the rest will be end-of-the-year adjustments based on Board of Education approval," Lakeview Superintendent Chris Fenske said. "Currently we have lost four days due to weather."
The Marshall School Board voted in a meeting Tuesday night to have school on April 1 and reserve April 5 as another snow day if classes are cancelled again between now and then.
"We have obligations to honor," said Superintendent Klint Willert during the meeting. Prep time for tests was a concern voiced by Board Chair Jeff Chapman.
Marshall's decision impacts the three private schools in town. Samuel Lutheran School, Marshall Area Christian School, and Holy Redeemer School all follow the schedule of the Marshall Public district.
John Festerling, principal of Samuel Lutheran School, said he would wait for a decision by his school board as to whether his school would have class on April 1.
Principal Carol DeSmet has informed her teachers that HRS will have class on April 1, said a school spokesperson.
MACS is waiting on a decision by the superintendent or the board as to whether students will be in class April 1, said a school spokesperson. Other schools are looking at what they need to do. Clarkfield Charter has also scheduled a make-up day on April 5, said a school spokesperson, adding that the school follows the schedule for the Yellow Medicine East District.
"So far this year, Wabasso has cancelled school five days," said Superintendent Ted Suss. "We will make up those two extra cancelled days by converting a teacher workshop day on April 1 and a teacher workshop day on June 4 into student days and we will schedule the teacher workshop days on other days, probably in June."
"Murray County Central has the following in place: first make up day - no student contact (rescheduled as a teacher work day); second make up day - made up already on February 12th," said Summer Pankonen, superintendent/high school principal, in an e-mail Tuesday. "All remaining days are added at the end of the school year. Right now we have two."
"Tracy will deal with the missed days at the board level in the future," said Superintendent David Marlette.
"Minneota has four snow days to make up through yesterday," said Superintendent Dan Deitte in an e-mail Wednesday. "We will be sitting down in the next few days to determine what the best course is to make them up."
Superintendent Dwayne Strand said the Ivanhoe School Board would discuss the subject tonight.
|
farmkid
|
|
|---|---|
|
02-18-10 7:53 PM
|
Vandriella, give yourself more credit than that. You seem to have some real maturity about yourself. (Your punctuation could use some help, but I guess that's the result of texting :)). In the future, when you post, I will give you the credit of thinking your thoughts and ideas through before you type them.
|
|
MyView
|
|
|
02-18-10 7:27 PM
|
EdmundFitzgerald, Do you really feel its necessary to stoop that low. Why don't you keep your comments on the article instead of picking on me. Maybe you need a timeout!
|
|
vandriella
|
|
|
02-18-10 3:50 PM
|
I guess, coming from a student perspective... First, I wish the schools had more than 3 snow days planned. This is Minnesota, everyone knows how crazy the winter can be. Second, I don't think one extra day will make a big difference on the scores. However I do appreciate that they want the students to get the most education possible for these tests. But lets be realistic...I mean, Seniors won't be testing, whats that one day going to do for them? And I very much agree with "My View" when they talked about a child may miss 2-3 days being sick, but dont have to make those up, just the work. I guess I don't like that my break is being cut short, but I wont make a big deal about it like I know some people are. I'l come that day, do my homework as usual, normal day... Im just a student anyways.
|
|
EdmundFitzgerald
|
|
|
02-18-10 1:28 PM
|
MyView, perhaps you should learn how to correctly punctuate sentences and use apostrophes. Then people might believe you actually DID once attend school. Obviously, your slovenly attitude towards attendance is mirrored in your lack of ability to effectively communicate.
|
|
farmkid
|
|
|
02-18-10 10:28 AM
|
The big deal is with funding that schools receive. Some money will be forfeited if school isn't in session for a full year. I believe it's right at 180 days, although that may have changed a bit. With the current situation, unless vacation days are used to make up for the snow days, the extra time will have to be added onto the end of the school year. Keep in mind the likely possibility of upcoming weather, and the fact that there isn't much for vacation time left besides Easter break. One exception to this rule was back in the late 60's when area schools lost many days due to the weather, and probably lack of equipment. I believe they had to make up almost a full month that summer, and eventually the Governor "forgave" the rest of the missed days.
|
|
MyView
|
|
|
02-18-10 9:21 AM
|
I dont know why everyone is so worried about making up 2 or 3 days of school, back in the mid 1970s our school had a lot more snow days and no one worried about making up the days, and it seems everyone went on to be successful. I dont think that missing a few days of school is going to make any difference on how smart our kids are or how successful they are going to be. Everyone is making a big deal out of this and to be very honest its not. If a child misses 2 or 3 days of school because he is sick, the child does not have to go to 2 or 3 more days of school, the child just has to do a little more home work and make up any tests or home work he or she has missed, lets face it, snow days could be treated the same way, a little more home work to make up the missed days and thats it. Quit making a big deal out of nothing.
|