State DOE will not offer waiver for snow days thus far

LYNN – Lynn families have already dealt with an abundance of ice, snow and freezing temperatures this winter. But unlike districts in the central part of the state, unless something dramatic happens, Lynn will not have to ask for a 180-day waiver from the Department of Education.Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester released a statement this week denying all 180-day waiver requests from school districts affected by snow and ice cancelations, and suggested creative ways for schools to make up the time, including holding class during February and April vacation.DOE standards say that all school districts must be open for 180 days of class, but Chester can grant waivers in extreme cases.Many of the waiver requests have come from districts in central Massachusetts, where severe ice buildup knocked out power in some communities for the better part of a month around the holidays.While severe weather has closed school in Lynn as well this year, Super-intendent Catherine Latham says the district has plenty of make-up days in the calendar and will not have to request a waiver or change the schedule this year.”At this point in the school year, I am unwilling to grant any waivers, as there is still time for districts that have had to close for multiple days to adjust their calendars to ensure that our students do not miss out on valuable learning time,” Chester said.Along with canceling or shortening February or April vacations, Chester’s suggestions include canceling teacher professional development days, keeping school open on religious holidays such as Good Friday and extending some school weeks to include Saturday class for a portion of the year.In anticipation of more weather, which is likely given that it is not yet February, Chester suggested superintendents who are in need of a waiver begin preparing now by immediately scheduling make-up days for hours already missed and begin scheduling slightly longer days by lengthening class time or adding additional classes certain days of the week.According to a formula Chester suggested, districts can avoid additional days by making up eight 45-minute periods to equal one day.”Districts that take both of these recommended steps will be seen as having made a good faith effort toward meeting the 180-day requirement,” Chester said. “They will be given consideration for waiver requests resulting from future storms that necessitate school closings later in the school year.Chester has also requested that school districts take into account the weather experienced this year when planning next year’s schedule, leaving more opportunity to make up days.”There is no question that this has already been an extraordinary winter, and no one could have predicted the devastating impact the December ice storm had on central Massachusetts,” he said. “I recommend that districts? adopt calendar provisions that anticipate the potential need for more than the five make-up days already built in to the calendar.”