Lynn School's Calendar will be adjusted only if needed

By Karen Chretien/The Daily Item

LYNN - School officials say public school students don’t yet have to worry about having their April vacation canceled or attending school on Saturday despite all the snow days so far this year.

Officials have already had to cancel school five times this year, but there’s still time for districts to adjust their calenders without cutting into vacation time, according to Superintendent Catherine Latham.

“At this point, we’re still in good shape,” said Latham. “I’m hopeful that the worst of the winter has passed and we won’t have to extend the year past June 30.”

Schools are mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to be in session for 180 days.

The department adopted a 185-day regulation in anticipation that at least five days might be lost each year due to weather emergencies.

Latham says right now the 180th day of school is scheduled for June 24.

“Before the five snow days, we were scheduled to end for the summer on June 17,” said Latham. “The fact that we start school before Labor Day has given us some leeway. I’m not concerned at this point that we will have four more snow days to take us into July, but if that is the case, we have options.”

But if school were canceled several more days, April vacation could come into play.

“I think February vacation is too close to be affected, but April vacation may be canceled if multiple school days have to be made up due to inclement weather or other extraordinary circumstances,” she said.