Winter weather forces longer school year for area districts

The beginning of January was the last time area schools were able to conduct a full week of classes.
Luverne, Hills-Beaver Creek, Adrian and Ellsworth last had a full week of classes from Jan. 7-11.
Each week since then, school days began late, dismissed early or were canceled.
This week began the same way, early outs and late starts.
To compensate for lost classroom time, area districts are adding days to their school calendars.
Luverne lengthened its school year in action taken by school board officials Thursday night, Feb. 28.
As of Monday, Luverne students needed to recoup 2.7 days in order to meet state instruction requirements.
Students in grades K-11 will now have class on May 13 and 14 and until 1:30 p.m. May 15.
Staff will finish the year on May 16 and 17.
LHS graduation is still scheduled for May 12.
Luverne officials had built 2.56 days into the year as snow days, which the district has already utilized.
Prior to the beginning of the school year, Luverne received state approval for a plan that increased the instructional day by 30 minutes.
Classes were originally scheduled to end on May 10 to accommodate the upcoming construction schedule.
The district will work with construction contractors to accommodate the later-than-expected school year.
“We owe it to our students that they have time to learn,” said Luverne superintendent Craig Oftedahl. “We owe it to our staff to meet their contracts the best we can.”
H-BC’s school board will decide March 11 on how to make up at least an additional two days of lost instructional time.
H-BC graduation is still planned for May 24.
The district made revisions to its school calendar on Feb. 11, adding four instructional days.
School will be in session April 17, May 30 and an early dismissal day May 31.
Adrian schools have 10 days to make up before ending the current school year.
At their Feb. 25 meeting, board officials approved conducting classes on March 15 and April 22 as well as lengthening the school day by 30 minutes.
The extra 30-minute schedule began Monday and will continue through April 26.
Ellsworth officials will meet March 18 to discuss plans for make-up days.
 “I have not presented solutions to the school board at this time only because I do not think winter is done with us yet,” said Superintendent John Willey.
Officials decided in February to conduct classes April 22, May 28, 29, 30 and 31.
EHS graduation is May 31.
State legislators are currently discussing forgiving minutes or even days missed due to weather.
“We are as of this time preparing as if no relief will be given,” Willey said.