Iowa students tiring of snow days

With the five area school districts averaging two late starts and five snow days so far this winter, the students enrolled in their classes are beginning to realize the fun they had away from their classrooms those days will only mean a longer school year -- and shorter summer vacation.

While many Des Moines-area schools are bracing for classes to be held through the first part of June, causing shorter spring breaks and Saturday classes to be considered, the majority of northwest Iowa districts are still looking to dismiss by the end of May. Of Ruthven-Ayrshire, Clay Central-Everly, South Clay, Spencer and Okoboji, the latter district currently stands to mark the latest 2009-10 dismissal date, June 1.

"The biggest concern I have in the spring is keeping the students focused when summer activities start," said Ervin Rowlands, Ruthven-Ayrshire's superintendent.

The five districts' superintendents agreed that while the majority of students enjoy the first few snow days of the season, their attitudes tend to change when they realize they'll more than likely be making them up at the end of the school year.

"Most of the kids like the snow days, but are really glad to get back into school -- especially after a two-day or more break," David Schulz, South Clay's superintendent, said.

"The students and staff are at a point where they want to get into a regular routine and come on a daily basis," Clay Central-Everly Superintendent Monte Montgomery said. "This week, when we returned to school on Wednesday, the students were very happy to be back. I'm beginning to hear comments from students questioning why we didn't have school instead of why we did have school."

"I think it depends on who you talk to," Bob Miller, Okoboji's superintendent, added. "Some kids don't mind, but others think that with bad weather they can't go and do things like they could in the summer. It really is bad for co-curricular activities and rescheduling events."

When asked how their districts are planning to make up the classroom time lost to snow days this winter, Superintendent Greg Ebeling said Spencer will be extending third quarter one week. Ruthven-Ayrshire's four full days missed will be made up in the spring, Rowlands said.

"We really haven't had a lot of time lost, since we have few early outs and late starts. The days we have missed will be made up," Montgomery added of Clay Central-Everly's new schedule. "The biggest issue with the teachers and student learning is the lack of continuity. It's difficult to get the students back on track after an unplanned four-day weekend."

During a stop in Webster City Thursday, Gov. Chet Culver said he is willing to work with local districts to make up missed days due to recent snow and ice storms.

Adding 30 minutes to the school day, holding school on inservice days, on Saturdays or during spring break are among the options schools currently have for making up the missed days. While schools can also ask the legislature for an exemption or waiver on the state requirement to hold classes for 180 days, Culver said he would not approve such an exemption. State lawmakers have not used their power to lift the 180-day requirement since the early 1970s, when some districts reported 20 snow days.

"I believe the 180-day rule is a good rule for Iowa and I would not be in favor of changing it. I know it's brought up every time we have a year like this with a larger than normal number of missed days, but I would ask them to look closely at how big of a problem this really is. I would hate to see the state make any move that would decrease the time students are in school," Montgomery said. "I've been at CC-E for 15 years and this is only the second year we have had more than four days missed because of weather. Even with the six days we have this year, we are still able to finish before June."

"My suggestion to Gov. Culver and the legislature," he continued, "would be to continue allowing schools to set their own schedule and keep start dates as a local choice. This will allow schools to plan for winter weather and build time into their schedule."

While Ebeling said he'd be surprised if the 180-day requirement were to be lifted this legislative session, Rowlands assured, "I know the issue has been raised for many years, but the addition of days at the end of the year is not going to create a hardship for our district or students."

"Those last three or four days do not have a big influence on student achievement, except maybe at the high school level with semester tests," added Miller. "I'm sure if the big schools pushed hard enough, they might get it done. But if some of us smaller schools with big numbers of missed days asked, I'm sure we'd get shot down."