School Board just cancelled day off in February

[ClarabelleCowFan]

With less than 30 days notice!

We got the call today that the school board was canceling part of the President's weekend holiday due to the weather days we had because of the ice storm earlier this month. The kids now have school on Thursday, February 17th. That's great other than the fact that this is less than 30 days out so people like DVC members (ahem) or those going on vacations like cruises can't make changes to their reservations without penalty.

I'll put my flame suit on because my kids will NOT be attending school on the newly added day since we already have reservations at Kidani.

We just found out about this TODAY. Apparently the school board forgot to factor in any type of weather days into the calendar so they pulled 2 days off the schedule - 1 in February and 1 in March.

DD12's teacher already told the kids she will have a sub in that day because she will be gone on vacation. I can't imagine my child will miss too much with a sub in place.

Hopefully they will plan better next year!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Was it scheduled as a potential make-up day? If not, then that is an odd change.

In 2004, they tried to do that with part of Christmas break for hurricane days in our county. I think they ended up reconsidering or making it an excused absence day when the realized that teachers make plans, too. The day wasn't marked as a potential makeup day.

I wouldn't give it a second thought and wish you a great vacation. My only complaint is that I am unable to go with you.

 

[MM27]

They always tell us that our calendar can change with board approval. We have three days build into our calendar each year. We've used one so far this year. If we go over the three, they usually make us go extra days at the end of the year or they take days off of our spring break. If we don't use them, they will either give us extra days on Memorial Day weekend or we will get out earlier.

I wouldn't worry about keeping your child out of school for that day. They have to understand that people could have made plans already and that students and teachers may be out.

I'm going on vacation over spring break and if days are taken off of spring break, you can be sure that I won't be there.

 

[w0rM]

My parents use to take me out of school for a week every November to go to Disney. Just have them ask the teacher if there's any makeup work they can do.

 

[Reddy]

my boys schools has a couple of weather days - if no bad weather we get them off if there is then they go that day

 

[Magic Mom]

That's they way we make up school days here. They use various days off during the school year first, then after those are used up they start to extend the school year into the summer.

 

[lajones81]

They always tell us that our calendar can change with board approval. We have three days build into our calendar each year. We've used one so far this year. If we go over the three, they usually make us go extra days at the end of the year or they take days off of our spring break. If we don't use them, they will either give us extra days on Memorial Day weekend or we will get out earlier.

I wouldn't worry about keeping your child out of school for that day. They have to understand that people could have made plans already and that students and teachers may be out.

I'm going on vacation over spring break and if days are taken off of spring break, you can be sure that I won't be there.

 

[tarheel618]

go have fun and I wouldn't worry about it, you'll be surprised at how many others will not be there either

 

[minniebeth]

While I understand your complaint, it's not unusual for school districts to do this~ many states are taking calamity days away and districts have no choice but to pull back scheduled days off. I personally would rather have them add the days on at the end of the year. I guess they're concerned with meeting the requirements of the state, not our vacations
I wouldn't sweat the day out of school. I pulled my 2 girls out for 5 days at the beginning of this month, no problem. My DS for 3 and he is in HS, so that was hard, but it was for a special circumstance.

ENJOY your trip!

 

[mrsv98]

With less than 30 days notice!

We got the call today that the school board was canceling part of the President's weekend holiday due to the weather days we had because of the ice storm earlier this month. The kids now have school on Thursday, February 17th. That's great other than the fact that this is less than 30 days out so people like DVC members (ahem) or those going on vacations like cruises can't make changes to their reservations without penalty.

I'll put my flame suit on because my kids will NOT be attending school on the newly added day since we already have reservations at Kidani.

We just found out about this TODAY. Apparently the school board forgot to factor in any type of weather days into the calendar so they pulled 2 days off the schedule - 1 in February and 1 in March.

DD12's teacher already told the kids she will have a sub in that day because she will be gone on vacation. I can't imagine my child will miss too much with a sub in place.

Hopefully they will plan better next year!

That is odd, do you live somewhere that generally doesn't get snow days? Being in Illinois, we have 5 days built into the end of the year and we don't plan anything until after that date just in case. In fact, we are going to Washington DC in June and decided to wait until 6/18 to leave just in case.

If I were in your position, I would go without a backward glance. It is one days and with a sub, they won't miss a thing. Have a great time!

 

[Bell30012]

Our school board just cancelled one day off in February, one in March and one in April. I had WDW three day weekend trips planned for two of those. I'm still thinking about us going on that March one.

I think we'll call it a <cough, cough> sick day.

 

[Cinderella94]

I'm sure a lot of other kids will be missing that day...we sure would be if we already had plans!

 

[punkin]

I am planning to pull my 7th grader out of school in early February and go on a short vacation. She will also be "cough cough" sick. I doubt she will miss much.

I am also planning on taking her out of school on the last day of school in June (it's a half day). I see no reason for a half day after finals and it will save me over $300 per ticket if I leave that day versus the day after.

Go and enjoy yourselves.

 

[emma'smom]

I bet 1/2 the kids won't be there...I wouldn't worry about missing it.

We have that issue in our schools too. We used to have 5 calamity days...but the state is bent in increasing the number of school days each year and pulled two. Anything beyond three have to made up. We live in the snow belt....we will have snow days..that's how it rolls! So then they add t hem back in later....

It has something to do with how the union contracts work....

 

[MomofKatie]

Our county cancelled teacher workdays in January (24th), February (21st, the only day we would have had off for Presidents Day/Week), March (11th), and May 2nd). If we have any more bad weather school closings this year, we will have to have Saturday school or cut into our Spring Break (already shortened from 6 to 5 days this year).

We don't have the choice of going later into summer- NC law states that public schools cannot start earlier than 8/25 every fall or end later than 6/10 in the summer. A few districts get special waivers- mostly the mountain counties that have a good number of snow days each year- but the vast majority are stuck wth the 8/25- 6/10 schedule.

 

[Daisy&Max]

When we have changes in the schedule we don't worry about the kids who aren't there. We just mark them absent and keep going. Just let the school know you won't be there per an already planned vacation.

Heck I'm a teacher and I leave friday afternoon with my two boys and will be gone the whole next week. So I'm leaving my assistant in charge and my son's teachers have said don't worry about their school work, they can make it up when they get back. I told the main office yesterday too and the only complaint they had was that they weren't going. hehehe

Go and have fun.

Daisy

 

[dicar123]

I think part of the equation would be, has the school board done this before? Only once in the 10 years my kids have attended our local schools, did they take away an existing holiday. Then the next year, they noted holidays which may be pulled back, but never ended up using any of them.
Every other year they have added some time to the beginning and ending of the school day if we go over our 5 emergency days.
So, I think a lot of people here would be caught by surprise if the school board did something like this, even if they reserved the right to do so.

 

[hereyago]

I live in VA. DD's school system has 2 inclement days built in. We were told that President's day would be a make up day, so she will be going. And it's on both the school and school system websites.

We got a copy of the school calender and it says that Presidents day will be used as a make up day. But I don't think many people look and go"Oh that will be used as a make up day". Usually people are looking at the last day of school and holiday vacation breaks.

I need to amend something: your school is crazy, cause we had President's day on the 21 not the 17.

 

[Pigeon]

I'd take the vacation with the kids and I wouldn't think twice about it. It's the school board's job to make the schedule and that includes planning for the typical snow days.

 

[LilyWDW]

I'd take the vacation with the kids and I wouldn't think twice about it. It's the school board's job to make the schedule and that includes planning for the typical snow days.

Yea, however this has not been a typical winter so far, especially for most of the south for example. Even here in NE TN where it hasn't been as bad, some schools have used up all of their built in snow days (and we are talking 8-10 days) and have already had to take away some of the one day school holidays. They have also already chosen the next set of days that will be used in case we get another winter storm. Some schools are close to losing their spring breaks due to the weather we have been experiencing.

I do agree that it shouldn't be a huge deal to have your kids miss that day though (as long as it wouldn't put them over in allowed absences for the year or cause them any negative consequences). I have a feeling a good number of kids will not be there on that day.