Snow, strike may mean more days in classroom for Bellevue students

With every snow flake that falls, Bellevue students may be saying goodbye to the precious days of summer vacation. Between the time off in September due to the districtwide teachers strike and the recent snow-caused school closures, the 2008/2009 calendar year is now short a full week of school - five days that may have to be tacked on in June.

Prior to the snowfall that resulted in school cancelation, the Bellevue School District planned to make up the nine missed school days, which resulted from the strike, throughout the year to avoid tacking them on in June. The dates chosen, roughly one day per month, were slated for what would have been a non-school or professional day.

Instead of lounging in front of the television, students would spend those days behind desks. This would allow them to salvage their summer days.

The district remained on track until the recent weather closures slid the schools off track. December 22 and 23 were scheduled as make-up days. Those two days ended up under a blanket of snow and ice. Bellevue schools closed on Dec. 17 because of uncertain weather forecast and were closed Dec. 18 through Dec. 23 because of snowfall.

Winter break was only scheduled to run from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2.

According to Ann Oxrieder, assistant to the superintendent, a final school day for the 2008/2009 school year has yet to be decided and will be negotiated by the Bellevue Education Association and the district then sent to the school board for approval. A decision should be made shortly and will be updated on the districts Web site.

Contact Bellevue Reporter Staff Writer Lindsay Larin at llarin@bellevuereporter.com or 425-453-4602.

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