SWAMPSCOTT – While most Swampscott students will be enjoying one last week-long break before summer, at least some Hadley Elementary students will be back at their desks sooner than the rest.Superintendent Lynne Celli said the administration had no choice but to add a school day during April vacation because Hadley had six snow days, one more than the allowed five for the year. The other schools will not have the extra day because Hadley’s sixth day was for maintenance problems.Hadley students will have to report to class for a half day on Friday, April 19 at 8:20 a.m. and be dismissed at noon, since only three hours are needed to add up to 90 hours, said Celli. The students will not have lunch or any extended-day activities.”Hopefully next year we won’t be facing this issue, no matter what kind of winter we have,” School Committee member Jaren Landen said at a meeting Wednesday.Celli said the school was adhering to laws set by the Massachusetts Department of Education.”If the number of snow days or cancellations exceed the school year and fiscal year ? you start with the Friday of April vacation and work backwards,” Celli told the School Committee on March 27.With the five snow days used, the last day of school for Swampscott students is Friday, June 28. With the fiscal year ending Sunday, June 30, there would be no way for Hadley students to make up the day before the fiscal year is over, Celli explained.Students and teachers who have prior vacation plans with their families will be excused, said Celli. Even Hadley principal Sandra Rivers, who has had vacation plans since September, will not be in, said Celli.She further reported that one student in the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program asked to come to school and would be provided transportation.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].
