The Dell Rapids School Board amended the last day of school for the 2014-2015 school year during their regular meeting on Monday, April 13th. The original last day of school was scheduled for Thursday, May 21st, at 1:00 p.m. However, the school district lost three days of school time during the year, one to weather and two due to state tournaments.
Superintendent Dr. Summer Schultz made the recommendation to make up a day and a half of the three days missed. Her proposal was to have the last day of school be amended to Friday, May 22nd, at 3:18 p.m. She said, “Have the kids come a full day on Thursday and Friday, instead of having the half day early release. And then only have staff make up the contract days that following Tuesday and Wednesday after Memorial Day, so you would only be losing a day and a half of student time. Then teachers would fulfill their contract. We would be able to use some of our nine state training days we have coming to us with the lack of days for in-service. We haven’t been able to use many of those.”
Schultz also told the school board that the state does not make the district count the days/hours missed due to early release because of weather emergencies.
“So your recommendation is of the three days, we make up a day and a half, which would run us up to the end of the day, full day on Friday, the 22nd, right before the Memorial Day weekend and not bring the students back after Memorial Day. I think that’s probably the most logical based on the calendar that we have, rather than trying to bring them back on Tuesday or Wednesday whether it be for a day or day and a half,” board president Tom Morris said.
The proposal passed by a 3-1 vote.
The final day of school will now be Friday, May 22nd, at 3:18 p.m.