Schools looking at options

Indiana schools have learned their options for making up time missed because of this year’s extreme weather. Now local schools are weighing those choices.
The Indiana Department of Education announced Thursday that in addition to going to school on scheduled holidays or extending the school year, schools will also have the option of tacking on extra time to school days or being in session on Saturdays.
Superintendents Tim Long of Jay Schools and Scott Litwiller of South Adams Schools said this morning they are looking at each option and talking with teachers and administrators, but have not yet decided on a course of action.
“Both those options are on the table today,” he said of longer school days and having classes on Saturdays. “I will settle on an option to take to the board Monday night.”
Jay Schools have been closed 14 times this year. They have received a waiver for two days, and will make up another when classes are in session Monday for Presidents’ Day.
The projected final day of school is now June 6.
South Adams Schools have been closed for nine days and have also received a waiver for two. One was made up when classes were in session on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and another will be made up Monday.
The projected last day of school in Berne is June 2, and Litwiller said he’ll wait to see what the rest of winter brings before considering adding hours to school days.
He added that he feels going to school on Saturdays is not a viable option for South Adams.
“We’re actually in pretty good shape with that date compared to other schools in northeast Indiana,” said Litwiller. “At this point, there’s no sense of urgency to make that decision.”[[In-content Ad]]