Schools may not have to make up snow days

Another snow day?

Thursday added yet another day to the school year in districts throughout King and Snohomish counties, which had already started planning to make up for three, four — or, in the case of the Riverview School District on the Eastside — eight inclement-weather days. And winter isn't even half over yet.

But as early as today, the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is expected to announce something of a reprieve: Any school district that canceled classes on the day or days after Gov. Christine Gregoire declared a state of emergency may not have to make up those days.

Gregoire declared states of emergency in November for flooding and December for a windstorm. Both declarations remain active.

"We're filing this because school districts have been hit very, very hard this year because of emergencies," said Jennifer Priddy, the state's assistant superintendent of financial services. "We're crafting these rules so that students receive the minimum hours of instruction required but so that districts will be allowed the flexibility on the number of days they'll have to make up."

The state requires students to attend school for 180 days. Technically speaking, OSPI plans to file an emergency amendment to state law: If a school district declares an inclement-weather day during a state of emergency declared by the governor, the district could apply to waive the required make-up day.

Currently, school districts have to cancel classes for three consecutive days before they can request a waiver for any additional, consecutive days missed. But, Priddy said, waivers are rarely granted.

A longer year

Districts make up snow days by scheduling make-up days on their calendar (often teacher work days when classes aren't scheduled) or adding days at the end of the school year.

Many districts have already extended the school year into late June because of the storms, potentially affecting high-school graduation ceremonies and family vacations.

Kent mother Tina Zimmer is concerned about the end of the year. Her family always takes a trip for the Fourth of July.

"I think the worst part about the whole thing is that I think we're heading into July now," Zimmer said. Kent had originally scheduled its last day of school on June 22, before the district declared five inclement-weather days. "My kids are still going to get taken out of school at the end of June, no matter what."

In Kent, as in any other district, it's up to the school board to decide whether it will apply for a waiver.

The Riverview School District, which covers the Duvall-Carnation area, had already planned to ask OSPI for a waiver for a few days, Superintendent Conrad Robertson said. The area was particularly hard hit by flooding in November, outages last month and the recent snowstorms. On Tuesday, the School Board approved changes to the school calendar, including having students attend school during mid-winter break, as well as extending the school year by three days.

"We're a little ahead on the process, but I think we're going to see a record number of waivers being requested this year," Robertson said.

Waiver for seniors

Issaquah School District may ask for a waiver for its seniors, who are scheduled to graduate June 18 at Safeco Field, said Sara Niegowski, district spokeswoman. Right now, to make up for five missed days, all other students would be in school until June 29, she said.

"The problem is, once you have it [Safeco Field] booked, it's your only shot at it," Niegowski said. "Graduations are a big deal for families — they plan parties around it, seniors plan trips. I even got a call from someone in Germany whose nephew is graduating. He wanted to know if he should change his airline ticket."

Thursday was the fourth inclement-weather day in the Seattle School District this school year, so the last day of school has been pushed back to June 26. The district's practice is to add inclement weather days to the end of the school calendar.

"We close schools with reluctance because it's incredibly important that we have continuity with instruction and we also know that it's a challenge for parents because of camp or family plans," Seattle district spokeswoman Patti Spencer said.

Seattle Public Schools transports 25,000 students by bus daily and uses a number of criteria to determine whether it will close schools for the day. The district considers whether buses can travel safely on snow routes, whether students will have to stand out in the cold too long, and whether teachers and bus drivers can get to work on time, Spencer said.

"It's been at least 10 years since the district has had to take this many snow days," she said.

Making the decision

If a big storm is forecast, officials stay in touch with the National Weather Service and the Seattle Department of Transportation. The night before an expected storm, the district dispatches three to five members of its transportation crew. Those employees then drive along some of the most difficult hills and snow routes at 3:30 or 4 a.m., Spencer said. The transportation manager advises the superintendent, who tries to make a decision by 4:30 a.m.

Some school districts are soliciting comments from parents and staff about how they would like to make up the days. Because the calendar is part of the contractual agreement with teachers and staff, many districts have to get unions to sign off on changes to the calendar. Then the school board has to approve the final calendar.

"A date that works for one group of people doesn't work for another," said Debbie Jakala, Edmonds School District spokeswoman. "We'll have to bargain the dates with employee groups. ... But we had immediate consensus not to go into July."

Judy Chia Hui Hsu: 206-464-3315 or jhsu@seattletimes.com

Rachel Tuinstra: 425-515-5637 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com