Kansas City-area school districts adjusting to make up for snow days
SHAWNEE, Kan. – A couple of the largest school districts in the Kansas City metro area are adjusting school hours to make up for snow days.
Monday, Kansas City, Kansas announced its plan to extend high school days. Olathe told FOX4 Tuesday its plan to make up missed days due to inclement weather.
A lot of people are hoping the current “A+” weather with temperatures in the 70’s is here to stay.
Following severe winter weather earlier this year, which canceled several days of school all over the area, districts are now adding up those snow days.
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Some are tacking on extra minutes to the days remaining this year.
The Kansas City, Kansas Public School District is changing the start and dismissal times for high schools.
KCKPS said inclement weather impacted the required 1,116 school hours at the high school level.
Starting Monday KCKPS will add 20 minutes to each school day.
As a result, the district said there will be no school on April 19 for both staff and students at all levels.
“It has been successful, welcomed because parents are already counting on certain days when their students are out of school, they’re planning family vacations,” Dom Derosa said. “The students going to college are working certain hours so they can build up their money for colleges.”
Derosa is the local president for the National Education Association of Kansas City, Kansas. He said they helped the district come to this decision.
Derosa doubles as a science teach in the district of more than 25 years.
He said if it wasn’t for this decision, students and staff would be looking at a longer school year.
“We would’ve had to go past Memorial Day possibly work in the snow days after that to make up the missing time,”
Alfred Fairfax Academy, J.C. Harmon, F.L. Schlagle, Washington and Wyandotte high school hours will take place 7:10 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 7:10 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. on Wednesday.
Sumner Academy’s schedule will be 7:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 7:50 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday.
Olathe Public Schools also made adjustments. After spring break, high school will add 10 minutes to the beginning of each school day. Now students will start at 7:50 a.m., according to the district.
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However, high schoolers will still have ‘later start’ morning on Thursdays, school start time will be 8:05 a.m. on Thursdays.
Olathe Public Schools said middle and elementary schools are not impacted.
The Shawnee Mission School District said at this point, it doesn’t have to make up any days.
Blue Valley students are on spring break this week. The district said it typically announces the final day of school after vacation.
Across state lines, North Kansas City Schools have used four snow days, including a “Red Snow Day” for the Chiefs parade and celebration.
Last year, the Board of Education did forgive snow days resulting in now additional classes, according to the North Kansas City School District.
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Kansas City Public Schools said the district calendar allows for two snow days and five AMI days before days must be added to the academic calendar.
As it stands now, KCPS said it has used both snow days and 3 of the 5 AMI days.
