B-BP BOE Votes to Use Feb. Break as Make-Up Class Time

The February winter break in Bayport-Blue Point is now a one-day holiday as the board of education voted unanimously Tuesday night to use four of the five vacation days to make-up for lost class time during super storm Sandy.

In a 5-0 vote the board approved the recommendation of former interim Superintendent Neil Lederer, a proposal that was endorsed by the newly minted school chief Dr. Vincent Butera, to hold class February 19 through 22 in order to ensure the district meets the state requirement of 180 days of instruction time.

Butera noted there were several issues to work out in making such a change to the school calendar and said he will be personally talking with each contractural employee association to ensure needed staff and district operations are in place.

Parents at the regular board session meeting expressed concerns that many students and many teachers would still take the vacation time,  and that students attending school would be watching movies and participating in non-curriculum focused activities.

“It is not our intention to have a week of arts and crafts,” stated Board of Education President James March in response to the concerns.