Williamsville schools lose another spring recess day
Frigid temperatures close schools
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

With a high of just 12 degrees and wind chills dropping to negative 20, schools in Amherst made the decision to close on Monday.

But for the Williamsville Central School District that means one less day of spring recess in April.

Students will now have to report on Wednesday, April 11. That is in addition to April 12 and 13, which were labeled regular instructional days after school was closed for seven days following the Oct. 12 storm.

The initial 2006-07 schedule marked the spring break as Friday, April 6 through April 13.

"Clearly, the reason we closed was the wind chill," Superintendent Howard Smith said. "When the temperature approaches 20 degrees below zero we look at closing schools."

He added that a lot of students walk to bus stops, and on cold days buses tend to run late.

"I felt uncomfortable putting students in that potential danger," Smith said. "It's all about students' safety when making that call."

Smith said that with the potential for more snow days closing schools, he will wait before officially informing parents of the new schedule.

Updates will be posted on the district Web site at www. williamsvillek12. org.

One more "give back day" is available on April 10. Should more than one snow day be called, the district would need to meet about the issue.

Sweet Home Superintendent Geoff Hicks acknowledged that his district has exhausted its supply of snow days, thanks to Monday's bitter cold.

"We reached an agreement with the teachers' union after the October storm that allows us to extend the teaching session at the end of the semester until Thursday, June 21 for the elementary and middle schools," he said. "Wednesday had been their last day of school prior to this point."

The high school was already slated to be in session June 21 because of the schedule of local and Regents examinations. Also, all high school students will be required to attend classes on Wednesday, June 13, at the start of the testing cycle.

Hicks said if any additional snow days need to be taken prior to the Feb. 19-23 break, they will be deducted from that weeklong vacation.

Should any days be needed after that point, they will be deducted from the April 6-13 vacation period, he said.

The Amherst Central School District has also used all of its snow days. Acting Superintendent Paul Wietig said Monday's closure was the final snow day available for the school year. With eight of the nine days used in October, the district had only one day left for the remainder of the winter.

"We are presently looking at all our options," he said, adding that the district will decide what would happen should another snow day be called.

Although a weather event such as the October storm is very rare, Williamsville is already making changes to the 2007-08 school calendar to avoid the problem currently facing the school.

Smith said next year's calendar will include seven "give back days" before having to take away vacation days.

"Next year has a longer calendar, and that gives more of a cushion," he said.

(Editor's note: Managing Editor David F. Sherman contributed to this article.)