Mild winter could yield timely summer recess for students

Jennifer Raley

CUMBERLAND - Mild weather could give students an early start on summer vacation.

If no weather-related cancellations occur, students will officially begin summer vacation June 4.

November, December and January are projected to be above average temperature wise and about average precipitation wise, according to Tim Thomas, local National Weather Service observer.

"This is not set in stone - these are averages based on climate change over the years," said Thomas.

The projection does not mean people should not expect cold weather and snow, said Thomas.

The 180-day school calendar has eight makeup days - June 4-6 and June 9-13; however, the board has the right to request the use of legal holidays for makeups if necessary, according to Mia Perlozzo, public information specialist for the Allegany County Board of Education.

Last school year, Allegany County had five system-wide, weather-related closures and three delays, according to Jay Walbert, supervisor of transportation for the Allegany County Board of Education. Five of those delays occurred in February, and two occurred in March.

"January typically has the most days," said Walbert.

The 2005-2006 and 2004-2005 school years, Allegany County had three closings each year.

During the last 23 years, the average number of cancellations per year has been five and the school system has never gone a year without a cancellation, but a few years have had only one closure, according to Walbert. The most weather-related closures, 16, occurred during the 1993-1994 school year, according to Walbert.

This year, school closings and delays will be posted on the board's Web site, www.boe.allconet.org.

"This just gives us one more tool," said Walbert. "We will continue to do the media alerts and post closings on schoolsout.com."

Contact Jennifer Raley at jraley@times-news.com.