SPS sets make-up days
Published 11:28 pm Friday, January 31, 2014
Suffolk Public Schools has moved to save students and staff a Saturday at school by canceling a professional development day on March 4 and making it a snow make-up day.
Other make-up days after this week’s six to 10 inches of snow, according to district spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw, are Presidents Day on Feb. 17 and Memorial Day on May 26. Also, parent-teacher conferences have been canceled for Feb. 7, which will now be a full day of classes.
Conferences can be scheduled on an individual basis, according to Bradshaw. She also reminded families that Monday would be any early dismissal for all students: “Midterm exams will be given to complete the exam requirement, and teachers will have the afternoon to complete grades and finish report cards.”
The prospect of sending students and staff to school on a Saturday while allowing the development day to go ahead as planned — as the board-approved calendar would have directed without tweaking it — had some riled, according to Facebook comments.
“Missing six days of school is an unusual occurrence and one that prompted a discussion of what make-up day plan would be best for student achievement,” Bradshaw wrote in an email.
Superintendent Deran Whitney “contacted all School Board members (Friday), and they agreed with this make-up day plan.
“A consideration included avoiding Saturdays as make-up days for these four days.”
The board will determine make-up days for any future days missed as needed, she added.
Meanwhile, Bradshaw also reminded folks that Saturday’s Career and College Readiness Fair at King’s Fork Middle School has been postponed. A new date is pending.