Seattle Schools seek waiver to avoid making up snow days
Jan 30, 2012, 12:30 PM | Updated: 2:12 pm
Students in Seattle public schools won't have to make up snow days if the district receives a waiver requested Monday to save money. (Photo courtesy Mark Morin)
(Photo courtesy Mark Morin)
The Seattle School District is seeking a waiver to avoid making up two snow days lost during the January storm.
The district would currently have to make up the additional days at the end of the school year in June.
While there are concerns about shortchanging educational opportunities, officials have determined that if they can forego the final days in June, then they can save approximately $500,000, according to Chief Communications Officer Leslie Rogers.
“Traditionally, what we hear about those last few days in June is kids are ready to start summer vacation, families are ready to start summer vacation. So we weighed all our options,” Rogers says.
At issue is whether the governor’s emergency winter weather proclamation earlier this month can be applied to schools in King County.
The Seattle School District already made up one snow day last Friday in place of a previously scheduled professional development day.
While some families have called for the missed days to be made up during the upcoming mid-winter break, Rogers says that is not an option as “families and staff have arranged their schedules around the school calendar previously approved by the School Board.”
But Rogers says the district has approved shortening mid-winter break next school year by one day and scheduling it during the President’s Day holiday.
