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Snow Days Making Mess of School Schedules

With another storm on the way, some school districts are running short on snow days.

Wednesday's nor'easter is expected to drop up to 14 inches of snow in the northwestern part of the state and could close some schools for a day or even two.

Some districts are already rearranging schedules and cutting vacations short. Depending on how the rest of the snow season goes, there could be longer school years for students across the state.

In Coventry, they’ve had seven snow days so far this year. The Board of Education voted to extend the school year from June 13 to the 21. Graduation was moved to June 23.

In nearby Windham, they've also had seven snow days.

In Thompson, they’ve already called eight snow days. The superintendent there says the goal was to make up those missed days either through staying in-session during professional development days or making half-days full days.

In Wallingford they’ve already called six snow days this year.

Wallingford resident Lisa Ryan said her teenager daughter usually spends snow days like many others.

“A little bit of hanging out … a little bit of social media with friends. But a lot of her assignments are online now,” Ryan said. In Wallingford students have already had more than a week’s worth of unscheduled days off.

“A few that felt like we really didn't need to have them but I know it's a call and it's a safety issue,” Ryan said.

The superintendent said the district still has three more snow days it can use before they’re forced to shorten April vacation.

Over in Hamden, the snow budget is already tapped out and the superintendent was hoping for a warm March.

Some parents wonder if all those snow days needed to be taken.

I think some of them may not be justified like the other day when it was just raining out,” said Darlene McNamara of Meriden.

For most districts, the decision to close down is about the safety of the students, staff and parents. And because of that, despite potential inconveniences, schedule shuffles and last minute childcare arrangements, parents told NBC Connecticut they understand.

“The safety of the kids comes first. It's an inconvenience as a working parent … but at the end of the day, none of that is all worth it if the kids aren't getting to and from school safely,” said Jill Quinn of Meriden.

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