Hurricanes mess up school makeup days

SARASOTA — Plans to make up for missed instructional time were once again dashed by extreme weather this week for Sarasota County Schools.

The district was responsible for sheltering more than 10,000 people, 1,600 pets, 500 National Guard and 250 FEMA search and rescue workers during Hurricane Milton, which sliced through Sarasota County a week ago.

With 17 schools restructured as shelters, the school district was closed last week and Monday to finish assessing damage and cleaning up for staff and students to return.

Superintendent Terry Connor confirmed all district facilities are back to full power, with the last air conditioner unit fixed Tuesday morning.

Connor said the district was originally going to use Friday, Oct. 18 as a makeup day for students from Hurricane Helene, but it will be used as a scheduled professional day with no classes.

With the addition of Hurricane Milton, officials will have to reconsider another plan to make up for missed instructional time.

“I think our teachers still need some time to to breathe a little bit and get things recalibrated,” Connor said.

Connor said he already made the decision to move the grading period, which would have ended this week, to Oct. 25.

In regard to the state-mandated hurricane makeup days, Connor said he already has a recommendation that he will be presenting to the calendar committee, which is to meet Thursday.

Connor said he anticipates that there will be a few days that will be built into the school calendar that the district will use as instructional days and meet state attendance requirements.

Official decisions for hurricane makeup days will be announced either this week or next, Connor said.