March 5, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Spring break cancelled to make up snow days There will be no spring break for Midland Park’s public school students this year as a result of the numerous clos- ings due to inclement weather. On the recommendation of its Curriculum Committee, the board of education decided last week to cancel vaca- tion on the four dates in April preceding Good Friday. All schools will now be open for full days on April 14, 15, 16, and 17, 2014. “Like all school districts in the area, Midland Park was faced with some difficult decisions in determining when to reinstate lost days due to the excessive snowfall we’ve had this winter,” said Board President William Sullivan. “We realize that any decision we made would have an impact on families in the district. We are taking this all into con- sideration as we draft the school calendar for 2014-15,” he added, noting that the committee also considered taking days from the February break and staying open later in June. Crazy Sock Day comes to Highland Fifth graders from Highland School show off their ‘crazy socks’ and the ones they will be donating to the shelter. The girls are pictured with Mrs. Stalb. “Reinstating part of the February break wasn’t feasible since three of the closures occurred after the board meet- ing of Feb. 4 and the board didn’t have a scheduled meet- ing before the winter recess. Calendar revisions must be approved publicly by a majority of the board and this didn’t meet the criteria needed to call an emergency meeting of ‘a delay in holding the meeting would likely result in sub- stantial harm to the public interest.’ Adding days to the end of the school year would affect the date of graduation. This would have had a significant financial impact on the par- ents of our seniors who have made substantial deposits and investments in the graduation ball,” Sullivan explained. Thus far, the district has a deficit of four school days. Schools were closed due to inclement weather on Jan. 3 and 22 and Feb. 3, 5, 13, and 14. In addition, students were dismissed early on Jan. 21. Only two snow days were built into this school year’s calendar. The board-approved calendar indicates that the school calendar may be extended beyond the last day of school listed, and cautions that plans that cannot be changed should never be made to include weekdays in June.