Thanks to last Friday’s snow day, Hermiston High School seniors will have their graduation ceremony pushed back a week to June 10, the Hermiston School District announced today.
Hermiston students and staff will make up days at the end of the school year due to inclement weather. Last week’s snow day on Friday, Dec. 9, resulted in a school cancellation. With a very tight calendar and no room for make up in the current schedule, students and staff will make up the days at the end of the school year.
The impact of this season’s cold weather will likely be felt most directly by Hermiston High School seniors, who will have their graduation day moved from June 3 to June 10. Due to the snow day, seniors would not meet the instructional hour minimum to qualify for graduation by June 3; thus, the 2017 graduation date will be June 10. The revised calendar incorporates a total of five days for make-up, in the event inclement weather results in further delays. A copy of the revised calendar is included.
The following calendar changes take effect immediately:
- June 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 are now designated as “Snow/Inclement Weather” make-up days (five student contact days for use in the event of inclement weather).
- June 10 is now graudation day.
- June 14 is the last day for students.
- June 15 is the last work day for staff.
The revised calendar allows for up to five days for inclement weather. The days are reserved for inclement weather and will only be used as needed.
“We understand that changing the graduation date and extending the school year is challenging for everyone involved,” said Hermiston School Superintendent Dr. Fred Maiocco. “However, we believe this decision is in the best interest of our entire community. We remain hopeful that with six months advance notification everyone will be able respond flexibly to this difficult situation.”
Oregon Department of Education takes a very strict view on how instructional hours are determined. Due to recent changes in Oregon Administrative Rules, there is no longer an allowance for inclement weather in meeting the minimum instructional hour requirements. The district’s previous calendar did not allow any room for make-up days; thus, the changes required to respond to recent weather related events.
