The Westport Board of Education approved a recommendation from Superintendent Thomas Scarice to alter the district calendar so that the school year will end on Thursday, June 18 for students. The recommendation to the board came after five snow days pushed Westport’s prospective school ending date into the fourth week of June.
“This recommendation was made to avoid extending the student year into the fourth week of June (beginning June 22) when we historically see a significant increase in absences, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels,” Scarice said in a letter addressed to the Westport School community, “and to maintain continuity of instruction at this time following a series of closures.”
To achieve an earlier ending date, Scarice’s recommendation includes two key changes. Friday, March 20 will no longer be a professional development day, meaning students will now be required to attend school on that date. Additionally, the total number of instructional days will be reduced from 182 to 180. Notably, there will be no reduction to the length of April break unless additional school closures occur.
The calendar alteration is indicative of a string of brutal winter weather. Heavier-than-usual snowfall, combined with persistent freezing temperatures that make roads hard to clear, has caused several snow days, delays and disrupted instruction.
