3 snow days in two weeks spurs district action

Albert Lea Area Schools has scheduled two makeup dates for students due to three snow days in the last two weeks.

The makeup dates are Monday, April 4, and Friday, June 3. School officials announced the decision Tuesday morning on the district’s Facebook site.

Graduation will still be June 3.

Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk said despite the district’s initial plan to make up snow days the week of June 6 to 10, the district is sensitive to the needs of families with summer vacation plans. Instead, it scheduled the makeup dates to be completed by June 3.

Funk said from his understanding, the 2013-14 school year was the only other school year where snow days have been made up. There were seven snow days that year.

Funk said state law mandates there must be 165 days of attendance at a minimum.

Without making up the three snow days this year, students were scheduled to have 168 days of instruction, but Funk said school administration wanted students to have 170 days of instruction to meet the basic needs of the district’s learners.

Funk said if any more snow days occur, administration will meet with the district’s calendar committee to review options.