NOSD studies its options for makeup days

The Northern Ozaukee School District was closed for three days last week due to weather, the same as almost all school districts in the area.

But Northern Ozaukee Supt. Dave Karrels doesn’t expect it to affect the rest of the school year’s schedule.

District schools were open Tuesday and Friday but closed Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday due to heavy snowfall and arctic temperatures.  

However, districts measure instructional time not in days but in minutes.

“We are looking at options and how much of the time will need to be made up,” Karrels said. 

Meanwhile, the district is already looking ahead to next school year, releasing its 2019-2020 school calendar.

Spring break will be the last week of March next school year in the district calendar, which was approved last month by the district school board.

The first day of school next fall will be Tuesday, Sept. 3, and the last day will be Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

Supt. Dave Karrels said the calendar “exceeds all hourly requirements for student instruction, provides an opportunity for time off around each of the holidays, keeps the school year compact, saves on operational costs and is student and staff focused.”

There will be no school for staff or students on Fridays, Oct. 18, Feb. 14 and April 10.

Spring break will be March 23 to 27.

Karrels told School Board members that teachers and staff were polled on whether to have spring break tied to Easter, which next year lands on Sunday, April 12, or have it the last week in March, which some other districts are doing as to not interfere with spring sports.

More than 80% of teachers and staff preferred the March dates, Karrels said.

Other holiday breaks will be Nov. 27 to 29 and Dec. 22 to Jan. 1.

Records days, when students don’t have classes but school staff report, will be on Nov. 1, Jan. 17 and June 3.

Dates for conferences and graduation have yet to be set.