Kids not going back to school for a while

I decided to take a look for anything new on the Times Reporter website, and I was greeted with this article about the kids and school.

TV schools likely to be closed next week
The Times-Reporter
Posted Mar 27, 2008 @ 05:17 PM
Last update Mar 27, 2008 @ 05:29 PM
ZOARVILLE, OH —

Tuscarawas Valley schools are likely to remain closed Monday through April 4, based on information received today at a meeting with the Tuscarawas County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and county commissioners.

Students and parents are urged to check local media and the district Web site, www.tuskyvalley.k12.oh.us for announcements pertaining to the official reopening of school.

“Our original hope was to open school on Monday, March 31,” said Superintendent Mark A. Murphy. “We are obviously becoming increasingly frustrated and concerned about the loss of teaching and learning time for our students.

“Attempting to open schools in spite of high water and many impassable roads poses a number of risks, challenges and liabilities, including the safety of school buses, student drivers, risk of not being able to get students home, and possibly denying education to many children not able to get to school.”

Although water levels have decreased, Corps officials anticipate rainfall may cause water pools to level off or potentially increase throughout next week.

The district had established five days this week (spring break) for calamity make-up days, but circumstances prevented that. Before flooding, the district had one school day to make up due to snow and icy road conditions. An additional four days have been missed so far because of flooding.

The law requires districts to make up any school days which exceed the first five.
Murphy said because of the extraordinary circumstances, the district is pursuing assistance from state legislators and requesting relief from having to make up all the calamity days as well as flexibility with attendance requirements for graduating seniors.

In another matter, the community Information and Input meetings rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday have canceled and will be rescheduled.

- TV superintendent Mark Murphy