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New Canaan Schools were closed Wednesday after a wintry mix fell over Fairfield County late Tuesday evening. A schedule adjustment approved in December by the Board of Education means the school year will still end June 21, four days later than on the original calendar.
However, the school year will be only 180 days, the minimum required by the state. It also made Feb. 15, originally a day off before the February break, a half day. New Canaan usually plans for a 182-day calendar.
New Canaan Schools were closed for six school days last October and November after Hurricane Sandy. If school is canceled for weather again, the district will begin making up the days by taking days away from the planned April vacation, starting with April 15. The entire break would be lost if five days needed to be made up.
School officials opted to possibly sacrifice the April vacation days instead of the February break because the April break is further away and gives families time to adjust their plans.
Superintendent Mary Kolek said she has to make a decision on whether to close schools between 4 and 5 a.m. when there is bad weather. She said she bases the decision on the safety of students and staff.
School officials may adjust the 2013-14 calendar because of pre-winter school cancellations the last two years caused by Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Irene and a freak snowstorm in October 2011, school board Chairwoman Alison Bedula said recently.
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