Kids in at least two Pierce County school districts might be able to avoid making up some class days lost to the January snow and ice storm.
The state determines a minimum number of school days and instructional hours that every district must offer students. In emergency conditions, districts may qualify for a waiver that offers some relief from the minimum school calendar.
Several local school districts already have announced their snow make-up days. Others are waiting to hear if they qualify for a waiver.
Tacoma’s acting superintendent, Carla Santorno, said Tacoma Public Schools will “look into waiver possibilities.” Tacoma canceled three school days during the storm and backloaded the makeup days at the end of the school year, where they could be canceled if a waiver is granted.
Sumner School District spokeswoman Ann Cook said her district will also apply for a waiver for two of the four days Sumner schools were closed due to bad weather. The other two days will be made up on May 25 and May 29 – the Friday before and the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Both were scheduled into the Sumner calendar as possible snow makeup days.
State school officials sent a letter to school districts Jan. 25 outlining how the waiver procedure might work.
It depends on several factors. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn is the official who considers waiver requests. But before he can decide, he must hear whether Gov. Chris Gregoire issues a proclamation declaring emergencies in each county hit by the storm.
Pierce County is still collecting information on the extent of damage (see www.piercecountywa.gov/reportdamage). County emergency management department spokeswoman Sheri Badger said the county plans to forward information to the state by Tuesday.
County damage assessments will be used to determine next steps, such as whether communities qualify for federal disaster assistance. The assessments also will be factored into the decision on school waivers.
The outcome is important in Tacoma, where the length of the school year already has stretched as a result of the eight-day September teacher strike. Tacoma originally scheduled June 12 as the last day of school, but that date was moved to June 19 after the strike.
At the same time, the Tacoma School Board established June 20-22 as snow makeup days.
If a state waiver comes through, those extra days may not be needed.
Other South Sound districts already have decided to make up days lost to the storm, but won’t ask for waivers. They include:
• Federal Way: Makeup days are May 29, June 18, June 19 and June 20.
• Puyallup: Makeup days are March 9, May 25 and June 19.
• Steilacoom: Makeup days are March 23, May 25, June 15 and June 18.
Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635 debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com
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