Community Corner
After Irma: Polk County Schools Announce Plan To Make Up Missed Days
Polk County Schools announced that the remaining early release days will be used to make up for days missed because of Hurricane Irma.
LAKELAND, FL - Polk County schools will use six early release days for the 2017-18 school year to make up days missed due to Hurricane Irma. Students returned to school on Tuesday and faced seven makeup days. The decision avoids the reduction of days off during the holiday season and was made in consultation with the Polk Education Association.
“There will be no more early release days for students for the rest of the school year,” said Superintendent Jacqueline M. Byrd. “However, this will spare students, teachers and other employees from having to lose precious time during the holiday seasons, or extending the school year to make up instructional time. We feel this option is the best compromise to keep our students in class without giving up important time with loved ones.”
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The students are only required to make up five of the seven days because Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart waived two days from the required 180-day school year.
The scheduled early dismissal days that are now full instructional days are:
Oct. 11, 2017
Nov. 15, 2017
Jan. 24, 2018
Feb. 7, 2018
March 14, 2018
May 16, 2018
Patch file photo
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