Kings Park Schools Dip Into Spring Break to Make Up Lost Days

Hurricane Sandy gave children some unexpected time off, but that time will be paid back, according to school officials.

The district lost a total of six days, three of which will be made up with conference days, which are days where staff comes in and there is no school for students.

School will be in session on March 25 and 26, the first two days of spring break, which are also the first days of Passover, and May 24, part of the long Memorial Day weekend.

“These are instructional days (which were lost) " said district superintendent Susan Agruso. “The state is not going to modify exams…the SATs aren’t getting any simpler.”

The state legislature passed a resolution in 2011 that allowed for exceptions to the 180-day rule of up to 10 days instead of the regularly allowed five from damages caused by extreme weather conditions, like tropical storm Irene in August of last year.

According to the state education department's website, some circumstances may be approved by the New York State Education Department Commissioner if they are “extraordinary,” which include “extraordinarily adverse weather conditions, an impairment of heating facilities, an insufficient water supply, a fuel shortage, a lack of electricity, a natural gas leak, unacceptable levels of chemical substances, or the destruction of a school building.”

According to Agruso, schools are legally required to use up vacation days before a repreive is considered.

“We want to preserve as much time as possible,” said Agruso. “We are not advocating for a reprieve of days.”

Students who are not in school on those days will be offered the opportunity to make up the work, said Agruso.