Ice Storm Will Cost Students A Few Days Of Summer

A week of cold weather leisure will cost north Spokane school children the early days of summer.

As a result of school closures during the November ice storm, Mead, Nine Mile Falls and Riverside school districts will extend the school year further into June than planned.

The Spokane School District has not decided when to make up days.

Mead will stay open June 16-17. Students and staff will also make up a day March 21, a state-wide teacher training day.

Riverside, with five missed days, will be in session June 9-13, taking an extra week beyond the scheduled June 6 last day of school.

The district also will be open Jan. 27 and March 21.

Nine Mile will remain open through June 13. Schools will also be open Jan. 2-3.

The school districts closed when a violent ice storm dropped power lines and glazed roads. Administrators say the timing and fierceness of the storm caught them by surprise.

Most districts prepare for one or two missed days by scheduling curriculum or snow days in the spring. But none were ready for three days so early in the year.

“This is my 21st year, and I’ve never had to experience having to make up time prior to Christmas,” said Mead assistant superintendent Gary Ferney.

Some school districts briefly considered asking state officials to waive the missed days. But administrators dropped the petition, which was unlikely to be approved.

To determine the makeup schedule, Mead polled its teaching and classified staff. Other options included makeup days during winter break and spring break. The staff voted overwhelmingly for the June option.

The curriculum days will be rescheduled, so teachers can attend workshops or seminars.

, DataTimes