Local schools adjust schedules following snowy week

Posted

Students at North Clark County schools had a truncated week of school late last month as districts now craft plans to add more school days in the wake of winter weather.

During a Battle Ground Public Schools Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 27, Superintendent Denny Waters talked about the snow days the district experienced. That evening, he said the north end of the district had five snow days and the south portion of the district had three.

For BGPS, its weather closures are divided between schools on the north and south sides of the district. North-side schools have more students who live at higher elevations and feature more rural roads.

“The north has just been socked in,” Waters said about the snow.

He said there was still nearly half a foot of snow on the ground that day at his house.

He mentioned the district initially called for a two-hour delay for north-side schools on Monday.

“The weather in the south was great,” Waters said. “We were hopeful that we were going to get the day in. It started snowing again and the plows just never made it.”

Because of schedule adjustments to get in the state-required number of instructional days, Waters said the southern schools’ last day of the year will be on June 16 and the northern schools would have their last day on June 21.

Waters said he had been asked whether spring break days could be used for makeup days. He said that isn’t possible due to the short notice.



“Many students, many families, many staff already have plans,” Waters said.

Waters said the state could still possibly waive the days due to severe weather. That would require a declaration from the governor, the superintendent said, which could lead to two days being waived.

Elsewhere in the area, North Clark County’s smallest district, Green Mountain School, has experienced five snow days so far this year. Its calendar has two days built in for weather, Feb. 17 and May 26, with the other three make-up days being placed at the end of the schedule, meaning the last day of school will be June 21.

La Center School District has experienced four snow days so far this year. Superintendent Peter Rosenkranz said the district had two make-up days already included in its schedule, which were set for March 20 and May 26. The district will also add two days onto its usual schedule so the last day of school will be on June 16.

The Hockinson School District has one built-in snow day on March 16 that will be used. The district missed three days due to weather so far, extending its school year to June 20.

The Ridgefield School District’s last day will be on June 16 because of the snow days. A message to district families sent on Feb. 24 explained March 3 is now an instructional day and the end of the instructional school year was moved forward a day.

“Our goal was to avoid bringing students back to school after a three-day weekend for the Juneteenth holiday,” the letter read.

Most districts have June 19 listed as that holiday, leading to calendars sometimes going into the following Wednesday.

Even with that holiday, Woodland Public Schools will see its school year end a day short of June 20. The district has experienced three snow days so far, and will use up its two make-up days on May 5 and May 26, plus the additional day at the end of the school year.