February 4, 2011
Dear Parents & Staff,
I wanted to provide an update to you in regards to two important topics, snow days and our building roofs.
On Tuesday, February 1st, Peter Evangelista, Supervisor of Custodial Staff went on the roofs of the school buildings to ensure that they were safe. On Thursday, February 3rd Peter Evangelista, Town Manager Stephen Maio, Acting Director of Facilities Joe McKay and our Town Building Inspector Jack Roberto went on the roofs of the school buildings to re-evaluate their status. The roofs were determined to be structurally sound and safe. As a precautionary measure, snow was removed from some areas of the structures at Galvin Middle School and the high school to ensure continued integrity. The School Department and the town have been, and will continue, to be proactive in monitoring the condition of the roofs.
In a memo sent to districts on February 3rd, Commissioner of Education Mitchell Chester stated, “This is turning out to be a difficult winter, and many districts have had to cancel school for several days due to the severe weather, which has prompted inquiries about waivers from the 180-day minimum school year requirement. At this point in the school year it is premature to grant any waivers. 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 lose out on valuable learning time. Making up missed days can be done in several ways. School districts may decide to take one or more of these actions: cancel or shorten either their February or April vacations, convert scheduled professional development days into school days for students, hold school days on Saturday, keep school open on Good Friday, or add days later in June beyond the originally scheduled last day of school. This memo provides guidance regarding the 180-day requirement and student learning time. We will keep an eye on how the rest of the winter and the school year progress and will notify you if this guidance changes”.
At a Special School Committee Meeting last evening, the committee voted to make a change in the 2010-2011 school calendar. Wednesday, February 9th has been changed from a no school day for students to an early release day. This will allow us to make up one of the days required to meet the mandated 180 school day requirement. On Wednesday, the district will be following the early release schedule for dismissal: high school 11:00 a.m., middle school 11:20 a.m., and elementary schools 11:55 a.m. Wednesday, February 9th will be a day 4 in the schedule to make up for the loss of that day during the week of January 31st. Thursday, February 10th will remain a day 3. This will allow parents and staff to follow the day schedule calendar presented at the start of the school year.
Galvin Middle School Parent/Teacher conferences will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and again from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The administration will be providing further information if required.
We are receiving many inquiries in regards to Wakefield High School graduation. Per 603 CMR 27.05, school districts are encouraged to schedule high school graduation as close as possible to the scheduled closing date of high school, and graduation may be held up to twelve days before the regularly scheduled closing date. The earliest permissible release day for seniors is twelve days prior to the regularly scheduled close of school, which means that high schools operating on a 180 day year for students may release the seniors as early as the 168th day of school. If the date for high school graduation has been set and subsequently a few more days are added to the school year to make up for snow days or other emergencies, the original graduation date does not need to be changed, as long as it is no more than twelve days before the originally scheduled closing date for the school year. Wakefield High School graduation date is June 4, 2011.
In the coming weeks, the administration and unions will be in discussion on how to make up future snow days if this severe inclement weather continues. I will keep you informed of any updates as information is obtained.
Sincerely,
Joan Landers
Superintendent of Schools
