Coping with one of the snowiest winters on record, Parkland School District officials have made adjustments to the school calendar to make up days canceled due to weather issues.

At the Feb. 18 board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rodney Troutman commented on the situation.

"We are trying to maintain our 181 day calendar and stay away from the week of June 23, which we need to get ready for summer school," Troutman said.

Winter got off to an early start while it was still officially fall. School was canceled on Dec. 10 and 17.

These two days will be made up as teacher professional development days.

Since then, school has been closed Jan. 3, 7, 21 and 22 and Feb. 3, 5, 13 and 18, all days which have to be fit into the calendar somewhere.

Feb. 14, was supposed to be available as a make-up day but ended up as another closing due to snow.

This one does not need to be made up as it was initially a school holiday.

As of Feb. 18, eight school days need to be worked into the schedule.

District Superintendent Richard Sniscak said the Presidents Day holiday on Feb. 17, could have been used as a make-up day.

"We opted not to," Sniscak said.

Troutman said the teachers' professional development day on March 14 will be reconfigured as a full instructional day for students.

He said an online program can be prepared to cover the teacher development work planned for March 14 to comply with professional obligations.

The next two make-up days will shorten the spring vacation by having school April 17 and April 21.

The remaining five days will be tacked on at the end of the term.

Instead of June 13 as the last day, it will be on June 20.

Troutman said there is no more room on the calendar to schedule make-up days.

"If we lose another day, there is no other to use except if we drop down to 180 days instead of 181," Troutman said.

Although the state requires 180 days for students, Parkland has always had more.

Troutman said area school administrators are considering talking to the state secretary of education to see about obtaining relief from the 180 day requirement of additional cancellations are necessary.

He said the June 9 graduation date is still standing for seniors.

"We are not working to change the date," Troutman said.

Regarding the forthcoming PSSA tests, Troutman reported the state has given districts an extra week to prepare for them.

"It's never enough time, but our kids are fine," he explained. "Our teachers do a great job. I have confidence in our kids."

As the meeting drew to a close, board President Roberta Marcus commented on the weather cancellation situation.

"We close school because we believe in the safety and security of our students, buses and buildings," Marcus said.