Schools Head to Parents, Staff: Should We Recall Feb Vacation Day

Middletown Superintentent of Schools Patricia Charles is asking parents and staff to complete a brief online survey on whether the district should recall classes on Tuesday.

On Tuedsay, Charles closed schools through Thursday. Friday is a city-wide professional development day and Monday is President's Day. That leaves Tuesday, Feb. 19, which was originally scheduled as a holiday. Charles now says she's debating whether or not to recall classes on Feb. 19 to plan for possible more snow days this winter.

"Technically, we should go into April vacation," Charles says, "but if we add this one day [in February], we can have the full vacation week in April." She's having the conversation right now with the union.

The Honeywell alert, sent out Wednesday to parents via email and telephone, reads, "Below is a survey to help us determine whether there is staff and parent interest and the available school personnel to hold classes on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, — thereby leaving the full April vacation week intact.

"Currently, we would make up one of our nine canceled school days on April 19, 2013, the final day of April vacation." 

Board of Education Chair Eugene Nocera said after Tuesday's meeting, "In order to keep April vacation out of jeopardy, students have to come into school on Tuesday. We have to go 180 days and the winter is not over, that's the other problem."

Nocera said the question was put to staff as well as parents because many may have already made vacation plans for April.

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