Updated Weather, Snow Day Status as of March 15
Dear parents/guardians - we continue to watch the weather patterns as they unfold and as they are predicted for the coming hours. The ongoing winds may prove problematic for us in the morning, possibly requiring a delay. As it currently stands, the Cayuga County Sheriff has declared an "Essential Travel Only" restriction for the overnight hours. Accordingly, we will wait until morning to make the decision on delay. I do expect that once in session, all activities including the wax museum will continue.As a reminder, we will have students in for half day on Friday, March 17 and will continue with an abbreviated conference day thereafter. Each of the principals will send dismissal times for their respective buildings tomorrow morning.
To make up for the loss of today, we are looking at the possibility of another half day on Friday, April 14, the first day of our spring vacation. I anticipate making a final decision on this by week's end and will notify you thereafter.
For a bit of background on these decisions, the state requires that we schedule at least 180 days of school "session" each year, 176 of which must be student sessions and up to 4 may be superintendent conference sessions. The student sessions may be half days so long as certain criteria are met. Further, the state rules(1) on scheduling sessions note, in part, that:
* If a district falls below 180 days of session, upcoming scheduled vacation days must be used to make up the shortfall.
* Session days, including superintendent’s conference days, should not be scheduled on Saturdays, legal holidays or after the June Regents Examination period.
* A declaration of a State of Emergency by the Governor due to adverse weather conditions does not authorize the school districts affected to operate an annual session of less than 180 days.
If we do not schedule the required number of days within the SED parameters, we risk losing state aid which obviously is critical to our overall operations.
We will continue to update you on our considerations and decisions as we proceed. As we do so, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions.
Thanks very much.
Superintendent
Ken Slentz
Ken Slentz
