Posted on February 29, 2008

When there is a one- to two-hour delay for the district due to weather conditions are faculty and staff required to report on time?

The schedule is delayed for staff governed by the STA contract (i.e. teachers, counselors, etc.). All other staff come in at their scheduled time according to their contracts.

Posted on February 1, 2008

How do you determine when to call a snow day?

Typically, we do not close school based on a weather forecast. At the time that we made the decision, there was no precipitation so we decided to have school. Here is what happens throughout the night any time a storm is in the weather forecast. Our transportation staff:

• continuously monitors the weather from the National Weather Service paying close attention to the forecasted duration of the storm as well as the severity

• monitors road conditions reported by the N.Y.S. Department of Transportation as well as local town and county transportation departments

• drives the roads throughout the district paying close attention to neighborhood roads, reduced visibility of bus stops as a result of snow banks, etc.

• works in cooperation with our buildings and grounds staff to ensure that we can have school roads and sidewalks plowed in time

• makes recommendations to the Superintendent who makes the decision by 5 a.m.

The same process is used in the event it becomes necessary to dismiss early. That decision is typically made by 10:30 a.m. The decision to after-school and evening activities is typically made by noon.

The district made the decision to cancel kindergarten because, in the event we needed to dismiss early as a result of the weather, it is more difficult to do so with the kindergarten students. The state does not count it as one of the district's emergency days because kindergarten is not a mandated program.

Posted on February 4, 2008

Why were seniors who have to drive put in danger because of no snow day?

No one has to drive to school. The district provides transportation for all of its students. In the event a storm is in the forecast, students who are uncomfortable driving should plan to take the school bus.

Collective bargaining agreements have language that addresses the calendar including the use of emergency days. This year provides for five emergency days and we have not used any yet. The contract does stipulate that we provide additional days off for some but not all unused days. That decision is typically made and announced just before or after the April spring recess.

Posted on February 6, 2008

When the district makes the decision to cancel classes in a snow event, why does the cleaning staff have risk to come to work?

New York State Department of Education requires 180 days of instruction per year allowing for a number of emergency days that varies depending on when Labor Day falls. This is to ensure student safety and/or allow for unanticipated facility issues, etc. The fact that some staff members report and others do not when an emergency day is used is a result of collective bargaining agreements.