The Lawrence school district will make up snow days this year by tacking minutes onto the end of school days and adding a day and a half day to the end of the year.
So far during the 2024-25 school year, the district has canceled nine full school days for inclement weather, and an additional day for Deerfield Elementary School last week because of a power outage. The Kansas State Department of Education forgives local districts the same number of inclement weather hours or days they build into their calendars and use.
The district’s plan upon the return from spring break on Monday, March 24 includes:
• Adding 15 minutes to the end of the school day every Monday, Tuesday Thursday and Friday through the end of the year at all schools;
• Adding 25 minutes to the end of the school day every Wednesday through the end of the year at all schools; and
• Expanding the half-day at the end of the year on Thursday, May 22 to a full day; and
• Adding an early dismissal day in which all students will be released midday on Friday, May 23, concluding the school year then instead of that Thursday.
Class of 2025 seniors will be expected to attend school according to the adjustments to dismissals, but they will not have any days added. Final exams for graduating seniors are set for Thursday and Friday, May 15 and 16, with the latter being their last day of the year. Principals will share amended final exam times for those days.
The district has already planned to hold classes on Monday, April 21, which was the sole inclement weather makeup day set in the 2024-25 calendar.
Superintendent Jeanice Swift said that of the 65% of the district’s teachers who participated in a vote on the plan over the weekend, 90% voted in favor.
Prior to the start of spring break at the end of this week, principals will share with students and families their new schedules, including updated dismissal times.
Board members on Monday did not take a vote on the plan but expressed overall satisfaction.
“I know folks were hoping that we would just get forgiveness, but this is a time where we just have to step up and do it,” board President Kelly Jones said. “And no more snow, hopefully.”
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
