K-L School Calendar Remains Unchanged, For Now

Sandy and Nemo have so far forced Katonah Lewisboro schools to give back two weather reserve days but not eliminate February recess.

When the school board voted on Jan. 10 to retain a four-day weekend over President's Day holiday, the five members in favor of the plan did so hoping for the possibility of a snow-day free February.

There have been two snow days and one two-hour delay since then, most recently when a blizzard blew through the region last Friday. And at this point—though the district is officially down a day in the calendar and risks the loss of some state aid—there are no immediate plans to add another day to the school calendar.

"I'm not aware of a discussion of the district calendar being on the agenda for the next school board meeting," School Board President Mark Lipton told Patch. He said although having a total of 179 days of instruction—instead of the state mandated 180 days—put the district at risk of losing approximately $17,000 in state aid, the district would do everything in its power to preserve the funding.

"We can apply for waivers under state law considering the circumstances," said Lipton.

Those circumstances include "extraordinarily adverse weather conditions, an impairment of heating facilities, an insufficient water supply, a fuel shortage, a lack of electricity, a natural gas leak, unacceptable levels of chemical substances, or the destruction of a school building,” according to the state education department's website.

There is limited time left in the school calendar to add additional instruction days, according to Scott Persampieri, assistant superintendent of human resources. State rules prohibit student attendance after the last day of Regents exams, and because many holidays fell on week days this year the district was not able to build in as many weather reserve days as it has in the past.

Both weather reserve days—one in April and one in May—have already been restored to the school calendar as attendance days. Lipton said re-opening the discussion could be initiated by the district administration or by school board members.