Will there be a spring break?

[leeh1530]

I think our system builds in five days planned for snow. But if they don't use them, then they knock it off the last days of school. We really don't determine a last day of school until about April, when the snow really kind of decides to GO AWAY!!!!!!!! Anything past the five days, they are tacked on in June.
I think once when I was in school, they thought about taking the spring break because of snow days. The teachers and a number of parents raised a major stink. Didn't happen.

 

[yellowlabforever]

Its funny, here in Montana we never get snow days, only in a real emergency.

The first time I had a half-no-school-day (weather related) was when it snowed four feet in May. We only got a half-day. Then everything melted the next day (go figure XD )

The second time it was when we had gusts of over 80mph. It downed a power-line near my school, and we got another half-day off.

A third time was when it snowed about five feet a couple of years ago. We only got a day off. Right now there is about six inches on the ground that has been there since October. It even snowed in early June here last year

We have 2:30 early outs on wednesdays, so when we have to miss a school for emergency those are used up instead of days off spring break.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

Last year here in Washington we had the kind of winter that hits about every 100 years or so. We had so many snow days I lost count. Not only did they not shorten spring break, they made up all the days lost and school got out the Friday before the first of July.

 

[bas71873]

I'm in Central VA and so far, we only have 1 day to make up. We had "banked" days for most of last week, so right now, they've taken away President's Day to make up for last Friday. I suspect we will be out of school tomorrow unless they really jump on the roads today and so therefore our next days to go are a 1/2 day on the 18th....that will be a full day and then if needed, we will go to school all day on April 2 (which is currently a 1/2 day).

From there, who knows. I say take Spring Break. We go to school til June 18 so any longer will be TORTURE in my book!

 

[njmeisje]

Here in NJ, our two major snow storms have occurred on the weekend. We had one delayed opening with a smaller storm. Like others have shared, our school system has set aside 3 snow days. We have not used any of them yet.

If we had used them all, there is a system to make them up. They do not add to the end of the year, since graduation day is set many months in advance. They would take Presidents day first, then Memorial Day, before they start digging into Spring Break......

No risk so far, and I'm really grateful. I agree with the poster who said, we all need the mental break that Spring Break offers. Plus - a trip to Florida helps us northerners start to THAW,,,,,,,,,,

Take care,
Diane

 

[RMulieri]

Here in central Pa we have had 0 snow days so far.We have had 2 delayed openings but those count as being fulfilled school days.Unless we get hammered with a snowstorm during the school week, we still have our spring break

 

[Kay1]

Here they usually turn professional development days into hurricaine days, though I think that one year when there were about a million hurricaines (2004?) they may have tacked on on the end of the year.

I don't recall them changing Spring Break, though.

 

[taximomfor4]

We still get snow around Spring Break time, which may be why the districts near me don't use Spring Break days to make up for snow days. They extend the school year instead.

 

[J3nn78]

We have had our spring break shortened in years past, but it has NO bearing on those who have already planned and paid for vacations. Attendance is very low at schools that week. Never had someone say they canceled their vacation because of having school during that time.

 

[kristennn]

I have heard account sof this happening in places around the country.
Oddly here In wisconsin - we have had 0 snow days so far this year and if we do have them (and I am sure we will have at least one there is an order of which days off will get taken away and none of them are spring break.
I don't think it will effect disney crowds - I think even though some schools WILL be in session for part of the week - i think most families going to Disney have their vacations planned and paid for.

 

[SplashMom]

Wow...we usually have a few snow days per year but we have never had to make them up. I suppose if it was an exceptional number, it may be considered but it hasn't happened in my memory (half a century!). Do you really think two or three days per year is going to change the outcome of a student's learning? Our teachers have a union that states the number of teaching days per year and there would be a big problem if spring breaks were removed. I think they may take away a Professional Development day, but that would be all.

It's funny because many people believe Canada is the land of snow and ice but we have only had a few snowfalls this year (two-three inches) and we haven't had any snow days. Hopefully, the rest of the winter will be as kind!

 

[jel0511]

Our district builds in 3 snow days into the calendar, so it's rare for us to have make them up or take days away from Spring Break. We haven't taken any this year yet, so spring break might be increased by a day, if no days have been used by then. We'd have to be like 3 days over the 3 we have built in ( meaning we took 6 snow days) before they'd even consider taking days away from spring break. My kids have been in this district for 7 years now and NEVER have they taken days away from spring break.

 

[kpgriswold]

I would NOT anticipate spring break crowds being any lighter this year, OP. Many school districts, mine included, use minor holidays (no President's Day for us this year!) and teacher work days to make up for snow days rather than take spring break or extend into summer.

And for those districts that DO take away spring break, I would guess that many families will simply pull their kids and go to Disney anyway!

 

[mom of princessx2]

We have no days built in in S. Indiana so any snow days must be made up. We have had 3 already. They have added school on Presidents Day, a day in May that they were suppose to have off and added 1 day to the end. Any more snow days and they keep adding at the end. Currently the last day has been extended from 6/10 to 6/11 and I would expect more snow days

 

[SilverMickey]

A few years ago our kids missed some crazy number of day... 14? 15? They couldn't make them up over April school vacation because of how the calendar was written. Current years calendars are worded different and they can take April vacation away. I personally would not put my high-school student through that kind of make up work by missing a week of scheduled school and my plans would have to be changed.

We are planning a cruise for 2011 and I am waiting to make the final ressies until the official calendar is released so I can be certain about my dates.

In NH we have only had 2 major snow storms this season. We have very little on the ground and looks like the next storm may pass south of us also.

 

[SurfinTX]

In Dallas most school districts have built in 2 snow days. The current policy for us is if we go over that then they will start using the 2 spring teacher work days.

Beyond that, though it has never happened, then they would use the non-federal vacations which would presumably be spring break.

In 1983 we had a super cold winter and had to shut down many public places for power considerations. I think LISD had to close 5 days. That year they made an attempt to extend the year by 2 days. Almost no one but seniors showed up because they were told they would not graduate if they missed exams the second to last day. After that they decided to eat up as many single day holidays as possible.

 

[vettechick99]

In GA, we are having to be furloughed 6 days this year. The last one they did was on a day that would have counted as a weather day (we had a ton of rain). I think my school board is hoping for more weather days so they can use them as furlough!! If anything, they will take our Spring Break days as a furlough or two. Dang economy!

 

[torinsmom]

In GA, we are having to be furloughed 6 days this year. The last one they did was on a day that would have counted as a weather day (we had a ton of rain). I think my school board is hoping for more weather days so they can use them as furlough!! If anything, they will take our Spring Break days as a furlough or two. Dang economy!

I'm sorry you are being furloughed! NC did that to all state employees(including teachers) last years and it was really a hardship on many people. I don't know how they will deal with the budget crisis next year; our district has been told they have to cut $7 million! It is no wonder our country is so far behind others in education. It is obviously not the priority for our federal or state governments.

 

[MSLRAC]

We live in western NC and our spring break is quickly becoming a thing of the past. It's already been shortened by two days and any other snow days will come off of it as well. We've already lost all of the other minor holidays so spring break and school on Saturday is all that is left.

We have a very strict attendance policy in our area so many families are having to cancel spring break trips due to the fact that those trips would result in summer school or grade retention for their children. But those that have missed very few if any days are still planning on going from what I've been hearing.

That said, our family decided to take our daughter out of school and go during a less busy week than to wait until spring break and we are very happy with that decision now.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I live in north east Tennessee, we've got more snow this year than in the last ten years combined. The rumor at DS's school is that they've missed all they are allowed to miss and if they miss any more they are going to start taking away spring break. I guess they are doing that instead of adding on at the end of the year. We've got a trip planned during spring break and we are pulling him out of school two days early for another trip. So it's not a good situation for us either way.