Subject to change pending weather

School Board President Chad Hoopman was quick to note a detail in the handout of weather make-up day options at last week’s meeting.

“Please note the bold at the bottom, ‘subject to change pending future weather challenges,’” he said to laughter.

The board approved an option to make up time from five days that equated to four days worth of instructional time, according to state Department of Public Instruction requirements.

The board added Friday, Feb. 15, as a school day, as well as May 17 and calls for a half day on Friday, June 7 — the last day of the school year.

In addition, the school day has been extended by eight minutes for the middle and high schools, which calls for starting three minutes earlier and ending five minutes later. That plan works with the bus company, Supt. Jeanne Courneene said. Those longer school days began on Monday.

She said she was reluctant to forgo teacher inservice days for school days. Inservice days have been a priority to include in the calendar the last decade.

“That’s where we polish our skills. That’s where we collaborate,” she said, adding, “I’m fully aware we are unprecedented with our weather.”

The board approved the changes, 5-0. Laura Schieffer and Aileen Dahlke were absent.

Two other options had students attending school on June 10 and for a half day on June 11.

Board President Chad Hoopman said he liked the option that didn’t include going back to school for that second week in June. Courneene said staff agreed.

The option the board selected, however, doesn’t allow any wiggle room if another day of school gets canceled.

Courneene said options that were developed when administrators met two weeks ago were tossed out the next day when school was canceled again because of weather.

Despite the board approving a plan, Courneene said the option “could go out the window in two weeks” since it is only February.

Summer school is slated to start June 10 with the preference that it ends by July 4.

Former state requirements called for 180 school days, but that changed years ago to require a certain number of instructional hours for middle and high school students and a different number for elementary school students.