B-BP BOE to Vote on Using Vacation Days for Lost School Time

The Bayport-Blue Point School Board of Education will vote next Tuesday on whether to cut the February vacation week short by four days to make up for lost class time during super storm Sandy.

In a letter sent yesterday to parents, interim district school chief Neil Lederer notes the district lost five days of instruction during the storm and those days "must be made-up to ensure we meet state requirements."

The board will vote at its regular monthly meeting on using February 19, 20, 21, 22 as classroom days and have schools closed on February 18, President's Day.

"Depending on future weather emergencies, hopefully this will enable the district to meet the required 180 days of instruction," states the letter, noting that "state guidelines" require a district to use all available vacation days before getting an exception to the 180-day requirement.

"Please plan accordingly," Lederer states in the letter.

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Earlier this week Patch reported that a good portion of residents across B-BP and the Sayville communities don't believe the vacation should be cut short or impacted. The topic has also been a hot issue on Patch's Facebook page this week.

The Sayville School Board of Education will vote on whether to use vacation time at its meeting on December 6.

Lederer will not be at the B-BP BOE Tuesday meeting as his time as interim position ends November 30. The district's newly hired superintendent, Dr. Vincent Butera, officially begins his new job as of December 3.

Take our poll and let us know what you'll do if vacation schedule is changed.