School Year Extended Due to Hurricane Sandy

Lacey schools will be ending the school year later than usual as the district has decided to add the five days missed due to Hurricane Sandy to the end of the year, Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower said.

“That’s the direction right now that we’re going,” she said, adding that the Board of Education approved the modified calendar.

“If we have any additional closings, we’ll look at the other days,” she said, such as already scheduled days off.

Prior to Hurricane Sandy, the school year would be concluding on Friday, June 14. But since the superstorm forced schools to close for five days, the district is now looking at Friday, June 21.

Currently, the last three days of school are listed on the calendar as half days. But Brower will be recommending to the school board that the entire last week of school be half days, she said.

Sandy posed a more difficult challenge to other schools in the area that were closed for more than five days such as Point Boro, which was closed for two weeks. That district has eliminated its spring break and added two days to the end of the calendar year.

“We’ll do everything we can to try and delay schools,” she said of any upcoming snowstorms, as the district attempts to avoid similar situations. For a school day to count, it must be at least four hours.

The modified calendar is as follows:

• Wednesday, June 19 through Friday, June 21, will be a half-day for students.
• The Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony will be at 6 p.m. at the High School Athletic Field.
• The last day of school is Friday, June 21.
• Grades for the elementary schools will be made available on the portal on Saturday, June 22.
• Grades for the middle school and high school will be available on the portal by Thursday, June 27.

The schedule is subject to change again if there is additional inclement weather.