Sandy, the aurora is risin' behind us

[The Prophet]

No not that Sandy .....

I'm assuming that many folks have book a trip during President's week.
Just heard yesterday, that they want to use that week as make-up days for the days missed due to Hurricane Sandy.

Do I cancel my vacation and hope that the teachers show up, or do I say "What the heck" and take the vacation anyway?

At least we planned on driving down, so we will not be losing anything if we decide to cancel

What are others doing in this situation?

The Prophet

 

[dvcterry]

Last year we went through the same situation after Irene and October snow storm.

They 'proposed' cancelling the winter break in order to make up time. We had lost about a week each storm.

The teachers indicated that they had planned vacations and the school district caved, despite meetings, despite angry parents, despite letter to Board of Education. The school district claimed it would not have enough substitute teachers to cover all the teachers who would be out, they needed over 64 substitutes. So no cancelled winter break.

As much as I never wish to take my children out from school for a vacation, after that example was set by teachers and Board of Education, I would not cancel anything.

 

[dapod423]

My school district so far has been very cryptic about this. They say they will let us know at the PTA meeting. Really?? I wish they would jsut tell us already. I don't have Disney plans but my DS's birthday is that week and I have to start thinking about a party date.

How old are your kids? Can they miss a week. Mine is only in Kindergarten so I wouldn't cancel. But if they are older and it will hurt them..... Not sure.

Good Luck!

 

[Judique]

Last year we went through the same situation after Irene and October snow storm.

They 'proposed' cancelling the winter break in order to make up time. We had lost about a week each storm.

The teachers indicated that they had planned vacations and the school district caved, despite meetings, despite angry parents, despite letter to Board of Education. The school district claimed it would not have enough substitute teachers to cover all the teachers who would be out, they needed over 64 substitutes. So no cancelled winter break.

As much as I never wish to take my children out from school for a vacation, after that example was set by teachers and Board of Education, I would not cancel anything.

It's probably time for your bd of ed to look at a new policy that will take into account that stuff happens, such as snow storms, hurricanes, etc.

Several years back, our local board came up with a plan. All makeup days are built at the end of the calendar. Everybody knows in advance when they are going to be, so if you schedule a trip during those possible make up days you had prior warning.

It's tough enough to plan around a school calendar as it is, since open days are usually the most expensive, and then possibly having to cancel or change flights, lose deposits.

I just wish they would go back to having a full week off at Thanksgiving! Really loved that the two years my kids were off all week.

 

[grumpydad]

I'm in Mt.Siani and haven't heard anything yet.

I don't think they should cancel anything until they see if any snow days are used, but either way i have the President week trip booked and I'm going.

DD will have to make up the work

 

[Brian Noble]

Do I cancel my vacation and hope that the teachers show up, or do I say "What the heck" and take the vacation anyway?

If the school district has not decided yet, I would wait until they do. Because you are driving, I might be inclined to hold the booking until closer in, just in case something changes after the "decision" is made.

But, many school districts have already announced that they plan to shorten or eliminate that week to make up for lost time. It is not uncommon...

 

[MinnieLee]

There are a few districts on L.I. that have already said announced that they are taking the February break to make up for lost days. I work in our school district (as support staff) and the district lost 7 days to Sandy and one to the Nor'Easter. They are counting the Nor'Easter as a snow day but as far as Sandy goes, awaiting word from Cuomo to decide about the February break. February break was usually "untouchable" so many of our staff/student's families have booked trips already.

The district also realizes that classes would have to be covered and would cost money to pay subs. Many book months in advance and cancellations would cost money. Nothing has been decided yet. Doesn't make sense since we were under a state of emergency. I know school is to be in session for 180 days but these were extenduating circumstances. A couple of buildings in our district had no power, staff were unable to get in and then on top of all that we had the gas lines.

On the other side, when we got hit a couple of years ago, Cuomo did sign that the days would not have to be made up.

We cannot make up at the end of the school year due to NYS Regents testing days.

Don't know what Cuomo is waiting for but hopefully he will make the decision SOON!

 

[Disney52303]

Last year 3 days of April break were cancelled to to Irene/October snowstorm. We had an April 2012 WDW and Fantasy cruise planned. For families with prearranged travel kids were not penalized for missing. We asked dd's teacher if he wanted her to bring homework (this was second grade) and he just said to have fun.

 

[The Prophet]

There are a few districts on L.I. that have already said announced that they are taking the February break to make up for lost days. I work in our school district (as support staff) and the district lost 7 days to Sandy and one to the Nor'Easter. They are counting the Nor'Easter as a snow day but as far as Sandy goes, awaiting word from Cuomo to decide about the February break. February break was usually "untouchable" so many of our staff/student's families have booked trips already.

The district also realizes that classes would have to be covered and would cost money to pay subs. Many book months in advance and cancellations would cost money. Nothing has been decided yet. Doesn't make sense since we were under a state of emergency. I know school is to be in session for 180 days but these were extenduating circumstances. A couple of buildings in our district had no power, staff were unable to get in and then on top of all that we had the gas lines.

On the other side, when we got hit a couple of years ago, Cuomo did sign that the days would not have to be made up.

We cannot make up at the end of the school year due to NYS Regents testing days.

Don't know what Cuomo is waiting for but hopefully he will make the decision SOON!

I live on Long Island as well.

This Tuesday, our Superintendent of Schools will making a recommendation to the Board of Education to take three make-up days, instead of two, during the February break.

Should be a interesting meeting and I am planning to attend

 

[Denise W]

My daughter is a teacher in NYC and they have been told that they will take 3 days from February vacation, plus a half day in early June will become a full day in order to make up for Sandy. However, they were also told that if they already have trips planned for that week they will be allowed to take sick days. So it sounds like people with plans will still go.

Denise

 

[DisneyGal24]

I would go ahead with your vacation. That's just me though. You should not have to make those days up. After the tornadoes in the southeast most school districts did not have to make up the missed days.

 

[Mjkre]

We live on LI. We were closed for 5 days due to Sandy. Our school just announced that school will be in session for three days of the spring break/Easter week and that it took two of the days used by Sandy as bulit in snow days. Two things could change things: if the gov. of NY issues a statement excusing the Sandy days and therefore allowing for a 175 day school year or if we need more then two of the remaining snow days. Either scenario could effect the days off (+\-).


So for me, I am happy we planned a Feb. break trip this year! Had we planned a spring break trip, I am not sure what I would do!

 

[Kathi OD]

Our district has already made up 2 of the days we lost for Sandy. The NJEA convention was cancelled, so we had school those 2 days. They've already decided to take away both MLK and President's Day (we only get 1 day for both), and then add a day at the end of the year.

DH and I had planned to take our DGD to WDW over the convention break, and didn't think twice about changing those plans.

I wouldn't cancel my plans if they decide to have school. Your district will understand that "stuff" happens.

 

[DeeCee735]

Wow! I'm surprised they took away federal holidays. My district said that districts are not allowed to do so. We lost the Tuesday thru Friday of president week. I'm using personal vacation days for my trip. No way I'm canceling as I already lost a trip the week of the storm!!!

 

[Nikisha421]

Wow I didn't know either that federal holidays were allowed ???

 

[bzzelady]

The federal holidays are the first "built in" snow days in our district. We had two days off for Sandy, and our schools will be in session those two days.

 

[Kathi OD]

Wow I didn't know either that federal holidays were allowed ???

Wow! I'm surprised they took away federal holidays. My district said that districts are not allowed to do so. We lost the Tuesday thru Friday of president week. I'm using personal vacation days for my trip. No way I'm canceling as I already lost a trip the week of the storm!!!

Since you're both in NY, it may be a state thing there. It is not a federal law that state/county/local governmental agencies have to follow the federal holidays. There are school districts in a number of states where school is in session as a normal part of their calendar.

 

[Mjkre]

NYS Law prohibits schools from being open for regular school year days on Federal Holidays and in July and August. Many school districts on Long Island lost two weeks of school. That's 10 days to make up. Cancelling Feb break only makes up 4 days. I would imagine those school districts will either hope that there is no more snow days or wait for some kind of action from Albany. Two other obvious times to look at are Spring break or the end of June. Although, I know my school district also "scheduled" the Friday of Memorial day weekend as one of those "subject to change if needed" days.

It is a tough choice for all affected for sure--one of many that has to have been made due to Sandy.

 

[jennypenny]

I'm worried there'll be a snow storm and we'll have even more days to make up. The end of the year is fixed. We've added back two days in December, but no decision has been made beyond that point. My DD's school is reworking mid-terms to gain a couple of days that way in January (we almost booked that long weekend--so glad we didn't!).

I owe DD a girls-only trip this winter, but it looks like she'll lose all of her long weekends because of the storm so I don't know what to do. I'm afraid if I book Pres Wknd and they have to cancel it she'll be mad that she's missing school.

FYI, we need to make up 8 days but 2 were built into the schedule for snow. If we have snow days I'm not sure what they'll do.

Crazy. My brother's district lost two weeks. They haven't heard yet what they'll do. They're still doubling up on a couple of schools that haven't reopened yet.

 

[silmarg]

We were closed for 5 days. Our calendar states which dates will get lost first (and they are spring break days in March).

That being the case, I just paid in full for our Disney Fantasy Cruise.

That said, I booked airfare months ago, so I probably would still go even if they scheduled school on some of those days.