By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The sub-zero weather blast has blown apart school calendars across Western New York. The latest round from Mother Nature took away the last remaining snow day for districts already scrambling to reclaim student days following the October storm.
Monday wiped out the last remaining snow day for many local schools districts. Many others were already in the hole.
Districts are required to have 180 student days of student instruction a year. As of Monday, Williamsville Central School District students had three days to make up.
School Superintendent Howard Smith said making up the time is important.
Right now, for families in Williamsville that means an April vacation that will be cut in half.
But Smith said it is possible the break could disappear completely if bad weather continues or another blast comes before winter's end.
In the Cheektowaga Central School District, students are having days taken from their February break. But Superintendent Delia Bonenberger said student safety is the priority, not the school calendar.
If districts use up all vacation time, school officials said they can ask the state for "five forgiveness days." After that, students begin looking at days in the classroom when they would otherwise be enjoying those first joyous days of in the summer.
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