Winter scheduling frustrates schools
Today was supposed to be a day off for Janesville schoolchildren. Instead, kids are in school to make up for a snow day.
One down, at least two more makeup days to go.
Finding days on the school calendar to make up for days off has become a problem for Wisconsin school administrators over the past two years.
Janesville had four days off because of harsh winter weather last year, and four more this year.
And this winter isn't even over.
What's a school administrator to do? Build more snow days into the calendar? That's what some districts do.
But consider that Janesville for decades has gotten by with just one built-in snow day. Officials have had to worry about makeup days in only five of the past 30 years, according to Janesville School District records.
But two of those years were this year and last year. And never until last year had the district called off school four times. Now, school has broken that record two years in a row.
Is it climate change?
Impossible to say, two climatologists said.
What we do know is that 2007 and 2008 were the two snowiest winters for the Janesville area—ever—since records going back more than 100 years, said Alan Black, climatologist with Midwestern Regional Climate Center in Champaign, Ill.
Black was surprised to see those figures when he checked his databases, but even so he said science doesn't have enough data to make good predictions.
Edward Hopkins, assistant state climatologist for Wisconsin, concurred.
Hopkins noted that weather scientists in the past had relied on water temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean to help predict winter weather in the United States—the so-called el niño and la niña effects. But relying on ocean temperatures in the past two years has led forecasters astray, Hopkins said.
So is the climate changing?
"The climate's always changing," Hopkins said.
But that doesn't mean next year will be a harsh winter. And it doesn't mean it'll be a mild winter.
"There's no easy answers," Hopkins said.
SNOW DAYS
Ten of the 15 area school districts contacted by The Janesville Gazette have snow days to make up before the end of the school year.
Only the Elkhorn and Evansville school districts have snow days still available to use. Delavan-Darien, Orfordville Parkview and Williams Bay have exhausted their supply.
Officials in many school districts that need to make up snow days still are figuring how to get it done.
Here's a rundown:
Albany School District
Snow days built in: 3
Snow days used so far: 5
Snow days to be made up: 2
Makeup days scheduled: Not decided yet. The last day of school is June 5, so additional days could be June 8 and 9.
Plans for change: Nothing discussed yet, though this is the first year the district built three snow days in. Previous years only had two.
Beloit Turner School District
Snow days built in: 2
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 2
Makeup days scheduled: Administration is talking to the teachers union about the make-up days, Administrator Dennis McCarthy said. Options include time at the end of the school year in June or in February.
Plans for change: McCarthy said it's not a simple thing to tack time onto a school year, especially since districts can't start the calendar year until Sept. 1.
"If the September 1 start date wasn't there, and we could start in August like we used to, we wouldn't have this problem," McCarthy said.
No matter how you try to build onto the calendar, it usually turns out you're tacking days onto the end of the year, McCarthy said.
"All you're doing is extending the calendar," McCarthy said. "You have to understand that you live in Wisconsin and that's what's necessary."
Big Foot School District
Snow days built in: 2
Snow days used so far: 3
Snow days to be made up: 1
Makeup days scheduled: Thursday, June 11.
Plans for change: Principal Mike Hinske said although changing the district's snow day policy hasn't been discussed, he doesn't anticipate adding more snow days to the school calendar. "We already have the two that are built in," he said.
Brodhead School District
Snow days built in: The school district makes up only odd-numbered snow days. For example, if four school days are cancelled for weather, only the first and third are made up.
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 2
Makeup days scheduled: No dates have been picked, though the two days could be made up on June 8 and 9.
Clinton School District
Snow days built in: 2
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 2
Makeup days scheduled: District administration is working with the teachers union to come up with a creative way to make up snow days, Administrator Pam Kiefert said.
"We hope to find a creative solution rather than just tacking on the days at the end," Kiefert said.
The district and teachers are searching for common ground among "varied and unusual proposals", and Kiefert hopes to find a solution in the next few days, she said.
Delavan-Darien School District
Snow days built in: 3
Snow days used so far: 3
Snow days to be made up: None
Makeup days scheduled: The district is looking ahead in case classes get cancelled because of snow in February or March, Administrator Wendy Overturf said.
"If we would have one more day, we would have to make it up," Overturf said.
If necessary, the district could schedule a make-up day on Feb. 27. If school is cancelled because of bad weather in March, the district could consider having classes on April 13, which is the day after Easter.
Plans for change: The district scheduled three snow days this year and last year. If officials thought more days needed to be set aside, Overturf said that would be considered during calendar negotiations.
Edgerton School District
Snow days built in: 2
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 2
Makeup days scheduled: Friday, June 12, and Monday, June 15.
Plans for change: The Edgerton School District has set its calendar for the next two school years. Superintendent Norm Fjelstad does not recommend building more snow days into the calendar because they'd be superfluous if the district doesn't need them, he said.
Elkhorn School District
Snow days built in: 5 for elementary and middle school, 4 for high school
Snow days used so far: 3
Snow days to be made up: 0
Makeup days scheduled: None
Evansville School District
Snow days built in: 5
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 0
Makeup days scheduled: If at least two more snow days are called, the days would be made up at the end of the year, starting on June 11.
Plans for change: No changes in makeup day plans, though the administration and school board might discuss and more clearly define which staff members report on cold cancellation days.
Janesville School District
Snow days built in: 1
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 3
Makeup days scheduled: Friday, Jan. 23.
Other makeup dates being considered: Monday, April 13, and Thursday, Feb. 19, for high and middle schools; Thursday, Feb. 26, for elementary schools; and Friday, June 12, for all grade levels.
Plans for change: Some school board members and residents have asked why the district doesn't build more days into the calendar. The counter argument is that more snow days were not needed for many years. However, the district has now experienced four snow days two years in a row.
Lake Geneva School District
Snow days built in: 2
Snow days used so far: 3
Snow days to be made up: 1
Makeup days scheduled: To be determined.
Plans for change: District Administrator Jim Gottinger said the district doesn't plan to build additional snow days into the school calendar. "We'd hate to get into that next week in June," he said.
Milton School District
Snow days built in: 2
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 2
Makeup days scheduled: Friday, Feb. 27 and Friday, June 12
Plans for change: The district hasn't formally discussed adding more snow days into next year's calendar, but a lot of people have asked about it, Superintendent Bernie Nikolay said. He expects it to come up for discussion soon.
But adding snow days into the schedule might cause difficulties, he said.
"If you build those days in, there's some union-related issues with that too because if you don't have those snow days, that's extra time that staff would be working," he said.
Orfordville Parkview School District
Snow days built in: 4
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 0
Makeup days scheduled: None. The high school needs to make up 22 minutes, which will be incorporated into current days. If a fifth snow day is called, it could be made up on Good Friday, April 10, or Easter Monday, April 13, interim District Administrator Patrick Kennedy said.
Plans for change: Calendar changes always will be part of the union's next contract negotiations, he said.
Whitewater School District
Snow days built in: 0
Snow days used so far: 4
Snow days to be made up: 4
Makeup days scheduled: Friday, Feb. 27 (a former teacher convention day); and Monday, April 13 (a former professional development day). The two remaining makeup days are to be determined.
Williams Bay School District
Snow days built in: 3
Snow days used so far: 3
Snow days to be made up: 0
Makeup days scheduled: Not applicable.
Jan 24, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.
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foxyroush...
...I do not think that two years makes for a statistical universe. Even if it did, would you really have expected the school board to decide, based only on last year, that we would have another very snowy year this year? AND that it will continue to next year?
Jan 24, 2009 at 9:15 a.m.
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staticrush...
Your idea is terrific... why not write a petition? I'll sign it! Makes more sense than any idea anybody else has come up with!
Jan 24, 2009 at 9:12 a.m.
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madman1961.....
"...Officials have had to worry about makeup days in only five of the past 30 years, according to Janesville School District records.
But two of those years were this year and last year. And never until last year had the district called off school four times...."
I agree with you about not having had to use much if any make up days for snow days.. BUT... given the fact of using 4 last year AND this year... I believe we need more snow days written into the calendar because it's quite obvious that our winters are worse...
"What we do know is that 2007 and 2008 were the two snowiest winters for the Janesville area—ever—since records going back more than 100 years, said Alan Black, climatologist with Midwestern Regional Climate Center in Champaign, Ill."
Our winters' climates have changed...we need more snow days.
Jan 24, 2009 at 9:03 a.m.
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I really do not understand why Janesville School District always settles for the minimum requirements. Why not teach for a week over the minimum number of required days so if something happens, there is not an issue, and if nothing happens would it be so bad that the kids got an extra few days of education?
Jan 24, 2009 at 6:04 a.m.
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JMO, Why not have school year round for middle and high school students? I would think that would be a great opportunity to teach the responsibility of having to go to work no matter the weather.Parents are always telling their kids that school is their "job" so why not make like a REAL one? Working people dont get free days off,summer vacations,snow days and on and on.I think kids need to learn this fact of life ASAP!
Jan 23, 2009 at 10:04 p.m.
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"wisconsinheat -- While your idea is noteworthy, I'm guessing the teacher's union would put up a fight."
Why would they put up a fight? I'm sure they have the best interest of the children at heart.
And it would put an end to any inconvenience of make-up scheduling.
They would be compensated of course, as part of the contract.
Jan 23, 2009 at 9:46 p.m.
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fbcoach66..."Does anyone realize that teachers are making up today's teacher work day on the weekend and after school"
Are you getting paid for it?
Jan 23, 2009 at 8:27 p.m.
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foxyroush...
...it's not arrogant to only have one snow day per year...it's actually more than is needed most of the time...read the article...
"...Officials have had to worry about makeup days in only five of the past 30 years, according to Janesville School District records.
But two of those years were this year and last year. And never until last year had the district called off school four times...."
So take out this year and last and it's only 3 times in 28 years that make up days have been needed. Not too bad of a record, if you ask me.
Jan 23, 2009 at 8:03 p.m.
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The JEA has worked with the school district at every step to resolve this issue. As I said on another post, the teachers contract is a two year cycle. The calendar is part of that contract so was not able to be opened up to negotiations thus no change for this year.
*****
The JEA has already been talking about some way to "pre-designate" days like today to be set aside as snow days. Does anyone realize that teachers are making up today's teacher work day on the weekend and after school so that we could use today as a snow make up.
****
Credit must also go to Dr. Salerno and Dr. Evert for adding flexibility to the teachers conditions in making up in these hours. All these issues will be worked out in the next contract.
Jan 23, 2009 at 6:26 p.m.
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"wisconsinheat -- While your idea is noteworthy, I'm guessing the teacher's union would put up a fight."
Wisconsinheat was saying what i have long thought.....so you build in more snow days and don't use them! OH NO! One of 2 things could happen...school could decide to end that many days early in June OR I know it's a radical thought...the kids learn 3, 4 or 5 days MORE worth of material.
But, alas, the Unions won't have it. I'm sorry, but the union's feelings or dictations have NO place in this argument. The way around it? Pass a state mandate just like they did for the school year start date having to be after Sept. 1.
Jan 23, 2009 at 6:24 p.m.
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easy soultion, 12 month programs. teachers are nicely compensated, have the best benefits on planet earth, generally a secure job. now is the time for the long overdue year long attendance.
Jan 23, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.
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My children attend one school in one of the districts mentioned in the article. Every month there is not a holiday that causes a day off of school, there is at least one day of "in service" or some such. Every single month of the school year, my kids are off school at least one weekday. This month, they were obviously off from Christmas vacation at the beginning, then they were off again today. This in addition to the snow days this month. Not to sound like the grumpy old man, but when I was in school, we NEVER had this many days off during the school year. Quite often, we still had school when most schools were canceled due to snow. We were one of the few districts back then that owned our own bus fleet. So, rather than it being up to the company from whom the buses were leased, it was truly up to the school district as to whether we had school. My bus driver was the head driver for the district. He'd take the bus out in the morning and see how the roads were. If he could handle it, we had school. We almost never had snow days when I was a kid.
Jan 23, 2009 at 6:09 p.m.
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I think only having ONE snow day alloted to ANY Wisconsin school is arrogant. This IS Wisconsin and snow and below zero wind chills WILL happen, not maybe. It is totally ridiculous not to build at least THREE snow days into a schoolyear. wowwww...come ON, people.. when we have snow days for our children's safety sake...why on EARTH punish the children to MAKE them make up those days that SHOULD be alloted to them in the FIRST place?!! wowwwww! I can't BELIEVE this insanity!
Jan 23, 2009 at 6:07 p.m.
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Skinnypuppy- My child goes to an outlying School district, (I'm sorry that I did not mention that, I should have) we do have one inservice a month (1/2 day) as it is my child goes until (at Least ) June 7th each year... now that we start after labor day ,,, that date goes into the summer time.. so Why not put the school calendar to 180 days with 5-6 snow days built in and get rid of the teachers conventions (that i would bet only a 50-75% attend) shorten up spring break (off the friday b4 Easter and the Monday After (if needed for snow days)...
so there is a solution to everything... Our district has snow days built in (I am sure it is more than the JSD a little of allocation of days would work..if the districts just look at the big picture
Jan 23, 2009 at 5:33 p.m.
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I have relocated to the Janesville area from parts further south. We always had at least three snow days in the calendar back there and we got an average of less than 9" of the white stuff per year. For a city in Wisconsin to have only 1 day built into the calendar seems like tempting fate.
Jan 23, 2009 at 4:21 p.m.
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Someone in authority has to make the decision
based on weather reports. Wisconsin a snow state is always ready for the snow days if needed. To make it safe for all he has to make
the decison based on human safety. People are
well aware that a snow day could occur.
Jan 23, 2009 at 3:40 p.m.
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What I'd like to know is what the difference between snow days and sick days?
If the schools are closed because of snow, they have to be made up to come up with a total of 180 days.
If little Johnny or Janie is sick a couple of days, there is no make up for them and they are "short" of the required 180 days. Does the district fail them for not having enough days? No, of course not...yet snow days are an issue.
I understand that I'm comparing 1 vs. 100's...however, the fact is that it's still a valid point...each INDIVIDUAL student has to have 180 days and if an individual is out with the flu, they are short the days.
So I ask....what's the difference?
Jan 23, 2009 at 3:09 p.m.
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wisconsinheat -- While your idea is noteworthy, I'm guessing the teacher's union would put up a fight.
Jan 23, 2009 at 2:35 p.m.
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Hey Frank. Give each kid a shovel and have them dig their way to school. I think I have an extra one laying around that I'm not currently using.
Jan 23, 2009 at 2:09 p.m.
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Why are we always trying to just get by with the bare minimum? That seems to be the prevailing thought in most things today. And it shows. Doing just enough to get by.
How about striving to be better? Build in extra days...they don't have to be called "snow days." Let's call them "learning days" and use them for that. If they are not needed for weather related cancellations, all the better.
Everyone seems to think more school days and more learning is a bad thing. And then they wonder why others are passing us by.
Jan 23, 2009 at 1:44 p.m.
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I say let them live with it. It seems school boards and school administrators did little to try to avoid these situations when the number of mandated school days was put before the governor a few years ago. The teachers union actually opposed a proposed change (which might explain why Doyle vetoed it) that would have relied on just using the hours mandate and not also the 180 day mandate. I know it's kind of confussing, but this whole 'what do we do about all of these snow days' situation could have been avoided.
Jan 23, 2009 at 12:45 p.m.
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Reduce Christmas break to one week.
Jan 23, 2009 at 12:21 p.m.
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i know that if they try saturday school again i am not making the kids in my household go that is ridiculous why should they have to spend their saturdays at school because the janesville school district doesnt want to give them more snow days allowed? hello add more in!!! the winter weather here has been getting worse and worse year after year they need to allow more snow days PERIOD!!...
Jan 23, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.
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There should be no less than 2 days per semester. 4 total per year. It is so much easier to have extra than to frustrate teachers, parents and officals by coming up with some other day the make up the missed days.
Jan 23, 2009 at 10:54 a.m.
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State law (since the 1970s) has mandated 180 days of instruction in each school year. State law also allows for up to 5 of those days to be counted for either "snow days" or parent teacher conferences. These requirements are not new, and it really should be about making sure students are getting the appropriate amount of instructional time, and not about the inconvenience of planning vacations for anyone. Come on, people, this is Wisconsin, where in April, it can be snowing on Monday, and 80 degrees by Friday. Make the accomodations.
Jan 23, 2009 at 10:40 a.m.
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There are no more early release afternoons in the Janesville school district, StaceyU2. So, I am not sure where the recommendation comes from to get rid of the inservice days, not to mention it doesn't help because it was ALREADY a student contact day...going longer doesn't make up for contact days with kids. On a different note, I know my sister's children are in multiple AP courses at one of our high schools where there is a direct and potentially serious consequence if Janesville - or any district that offers AP classes - simply tacks on school days at the end of the year. AP exams that may grant college credits, take place in early May...losing 4 or more school days PRIOR to the exams can truly impact the vast quantity of information that must be covered and learned to do well on that exam. Since kids had such a long winter break, and go so late into June, these kids have also lost about an additional week of learning before the exams - so they may lose about 2 weeks of instruction prior to exams; that is a pretty big deal for anyone that knows about those exams! One of her older children was able to earn over a full semester's worth of college credits enabling him to have a better course selection opportunity and saved the family a semester of tuition! For the sake of situations like these, I would hope the district would make up these days earlier rather than later - who the heck wants to be in school when it is 75 and sunny in June anyways? We should make decisions based on what will give the best educational opportunity, and I don't think prolonging school into mid or late June will do that. (Not that a magician on a Saturday was the best educational opportunity, but I digress) The teachers and district have the option to make this meaningful; I hope they do so.
Jan 23, 2009 at 10:20 a.m.
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Why not error on the side of caution.. build in enough snow days, and get rid of those stupid "Inservice days".. My Kid has at least one afternoon off a month for inservice, those are just as inconvenient as Snow Days,.. I understand that the state mandates 180 days of school, so building in 5-6 more days (i would think) would not cost the districts anymore money, they are there if we need them,,if we don't need them , don't use them... Shorten up spring break, and christmas break, eliminate some of those inservice afternoons, and move the SWEO conferences to the week ends..
Jan 23, 2009 at 9:45 a.m.
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Janesville has gotten away with no snow days as they allow school even when the roads are bad and sidewalks. There have been times in the past years when my kids were in school I kept them home as to weather and If my children were still school age I would do it again... Janesville waits till the last minute to cancel when people who work and have things to do need to make plans accrdingly and it is hard to do at an hours notice....This is Wisconsin and the weather has a tendency for snow and cold "YA THINK" They need to consider that Wisconsin has 4 seasons and 1 is winter. They wouldn't be in this mess if they think rationally about the weather here...
Jan 23, 2009 at 9:28 a.m.
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See?? ..........
..........too many people stopped driving gas-guzzling SUVs, so now we don't have global warming to help us out anymore.
.
Al Gore, see what you caused??????
.
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