The last day of school for Ludlow students is scheduled for June 22.
LUDLOW - The School Committee has voted to restore the April vacation which begins the week of April 16.
“We voted to put the April vacation back in,” said School Committee member James P. “Chip” Harrington.
The School Committee had voted earlier to remove the April vacation from the school calendar after school had to be closed for a week following the October snowstorm during which many homes in the region were without power for a week.
“We usually use three to five snow days every winter, so we initially thought we should give back the April vacation so students would not be in school until July,” Harrington said.
With this year’s mild winter, only one snow day was used this winter, Harrington said.
Even with restoring the April vacation, the last day of school for students will be June 22, Harrington said.
School Committee member Jacob Oliveira said he felt unsure about whether to vote to restore the vacation, since some teachers had had to cancel plans when it was taken away.
“Without the vacation it was a long stretch until the end of the school year,” Oliveira said.
With all the MCAS preparation, we did not want to risk burnout by students and staff,” Oliveira said.
“It is good for students to have a mental break,” Oliveira added.
Interim School Superintendent Donna Hogan said some parents and students have made plans to visit colleges and universities during April vacation so that students can see the schools while they are in session.
Oliveira added that even where students go to school year round, there is a break in the calendar built in every nine to 10 weeks.
“It’s been a very mild winter,” Oliveira said. “Today the temperature is 71 degrees. It’s great.”
Even with the April vacation, students will get out of school for the summer on June 22.
“They won’t be going to school until July 1st,” Oliveira said.