Newton School Vacation Week Strikes Differently This Year

NEWTON, MA — As students throughout the state enjoy a week off for February vacation this week it is back to the classroom for Newton children in the wake of the 15-day teachers' strike that concluded with an agreement earlier this month.

In order to make up some of the 11 days missed during the work stoppage — during which all school buildings were closed and school programs canceled — students and teachers were back in school this week starting on Tuesday through Friday in order to meet the 180-day state requirement.

While attendance is strongly encouraged, school officials said students will not receive unexcused absences in the event of previous family commitments that could not be changed on short notice.

Teachers and staff members are required to be in the schools unless there is an extraordinary circumstance leading to their absence.

Superintendent Anna Nolin sent a letter to the school community last week saying that bus service would be provided this week. However, some of the drivers will not be the usual ones as they, also, previously had this weekend as a scheduled week off.

"Our bus vendor does have substitute drivers for the buses but they may be unfamiliar with the roads and all of the stops," Nolin said. "You may experience some delays going to and from school.

"For our walkers and riders, there are little-to-no unforeseen issues for crossing guards. ... Should anything arise, we will notify families as early as possible."

The School Committee approved the four in-session days during February vacation week, as well as additional school days at the end of June to make up for the strike days. As of now, the last day of school for students will be June 26 with the last day for teachers on June 27.

All students in the state are required to attend 180 classroom days of instruction with a cutoff of June 30 each academic year. June 29 and June 30 are on a weekend this year. Newton students will still have all scheduled holidays — including Good Friday on March 29 and Juneteenth on June 19 — off.

The good news this winter has been the lack of snow days. While most other districts canceled school last Tuesday, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and Nolin held off as the forecast changed throughout the day before, and NPS wound up having a regular school session on a day when most of the heavier snow went far south of Greater Boston.

Newton students, parents and staff looking to preserve the next vacation in April will also be heartened by an extended weather forecast that includes little to no winter precipitation expected over the next two weeks as temperatures soar into the 50s.

Any additional snow days would be expected to be made up during April vacation starting on April 16 following the Patriots Day holiday — which also includes the Boston Marathon closing down main streets in the heart of the city.

Remote school days during a snow event are no longer permitted to count toward classroom hours after former Gov. Charlie Baker and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education made the change in 2021 in order to force hesitant districts away from hybrid and remote learning as the COVID-19 pandemic waned.