Riverhead School District Adjusts Calendar After Sandy

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy has school districts across Long Island scrambling to make up school days lost to the storm.

In Riverhead, where the high school was used an emergency shelter, School Superintendent Nancy Carney said, in a letter to students and parents. that the calender was altered to allow the district to make up for lost time.

"Our district was luckier than most; we only have a few days to recoup while some of our counterparts have lost entired vacations," she said.

On Nov. 27, the board of education adopted a resolution stating that the Riverhead Central School District would implement a revised school calendar for the 2012-2013 school year.

Changes reflected include student attendance on Nov. 6 and May 28 due to the closing of school during Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath, and the designation of Monday, March 25, Wed., March 27, and Thursday, March 28 as days to be used for additional instruction should school need to be closed for any additional weather-related events during the school year.  

The district's two prior superintendent’s conference Days, plus Tuesday, May 28, allows for meeting the required 180 days of school.  

"We will not need to have school during the spring break unless we need to close for snow days. Let’s hope for a mild winter," Carney said.  

Meanwhile, Miller Place and Shoreham-Wading River School Districts have announced their plans on their websites in order to reach the mandatory 180 days of instruction.

Miller Place:

• High School mid-term exams and finals week Jan. 22-25 will be a regular week of school. Details of administering exams will be forwarded.
• School will be in session for all students Feb. 20-22.
• School will not be in session for all students Feb. 18,19.
• School will be in session for all students on May 24.
• The adjusted calendar allows for two available snow days.

Shoreham-Wading River:

• With five school days lost and two allocated for snow days, three days must be made up.
• April 1 will now be a school day.
• School will now be in session Feb. 21, 22.
• Feb. 20 will be a school day should there be a fourth school closing this winter.
• Feb. 19 will be a school day should there be a fifth school closing this winter.
• March 27 will be a school day should there be a sixth school closing this winter.
• March 25 will be a school day should there be a seventh school closing this winter.