Wednesday, February 27th, 2019
Parkway implements 3-hour delay policy
By Tom Stankard
ROCKFORD - Parkway Local Schools officials have implemented a three-hour delay policy that will be used as needed to combat the growing number of canceled days due to weather.
"They've been off a lot. Even the students want to be here," superintendent Jeanne Osterfeld said.
This schedule will allow students more time to get to school safely without having to cancel the entire day, she has said.
Doors will open at 10:45 a.m., so no breakfast will be served, Osterfeld noted.
School principals have said the school day will not be extended, instead the regular schedule will be altered.
High school principal Brian Fortkamp said ninth period study hall will be canceled and each class will be shortened by two minutes. Middle school principal Brian Woods said each class will be cut by five minutes.
At the elementary school, Esselstein said teachers will adjust their schedules to focus on students' needs at that particular time. Morning and afternoon recesses also would be eliminated but the lunch recess and specials would still be in place.
School board members discussed the three-hour-delay schedule at a meeting earlier this month but decided to delay deciding until they had more information.
Members were not required to vote on the issue but have notified Osterfeld of their support, she said.
"They didn't want to wait too much longer, in case weather gets bad again," she added.
For more information, Osterfeld said to visit parkwayschools.org.
