WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Strike make-up dates set – and possible snow days that could stretch beyond Fourth of July

The revised list of key dates for this school year was sent to Seattle Public Schools families this morning (thanks for the forwards!), and they include make-up days for the days missed during the Seattle Education Association strike. The announcement says, “The five make-up days are February 2, June 27, 28, 29, and 30.” The announcement also notes that high-school graduation ceremonies “will be rescheduled (by October 21) based on the updated 2022-23 school year calendar.” Three dates are set aside as snow make-up dates if needed: July 3, 5, and 6. After the 2015 strike, all but one of the make-up days were scheduled within the previously planned school year.

51 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Strike make-up dates set - and possible snow days that could stretch beyond Fourth of July"

  • M October 13, 2022 (9:39 am)

    I was really hoping they’d do the sensible thing and just get rid of mid-winter break.  The kids will have just had 17 days off for winter break.  They really don’t need another week off in February.  

    • Anne October 13, 2022 (10:22 am)

      M- totally agree- the  mid- winter break is probably in a contract or something- but really is there no flexibility?? 

      • Person October 13, 2022 (11:30 am)

        Midwinter break was up for discussion but SEA voted to keep it.

    • Jeff October 13, 2022 (10:50 am)

      The teachers need the winter break too. It’s not for just kids. 

      • M October 13, 2022 (12:32 pm)

        They all get a winter break from Dec. 17th until January 3rd.  They don’t need another one in February.   Spring break is still in place as well.   I always felt like mid-winter break was too much- the kids were only just getting back into the swing of things from the holidays and then it’s interrupted again. 

    • Kristina October 13, 2022 (12:58 pm)

      Mid-winter break is partially about flu season and illness- if kids are apart for a week it reduces winter flu season and school outbreaks. With Covid in the mix this seems more relevant.

      • sam-c October 13, 2022 (2:06 pm)

        Getting a break from passing on winter colds and other illnesses seems like it makes some sense.

        • M October 13, 2022 (2:14 pm)

          Yeah, that would be great if everyone could schedule their illness for mid-winter break.  And I’m sure no one going on vacation during that time will bring back any illnesses from their adventures post break.  Everyone will be sitting in sterile bubbles for a week, so as to stop the spread.  

      • zark00 October 13, 2022 (2:34 pm)

        Mid-winter break has nothing to do with cold and flu season. It started in the NE as a way to cut fuel costs for buses and heating in the coldest months, and families made it the ‘ski holiday’ break so it stayed popular. In our area it started because, after looking at teacher fatigue, researchers found that schools with a mid-winter break has less teacher’s losing it during the whole run-up to testing and spring break being still months away. It’s still controversial. Affluent families generally support it, it’s when they go to Whistler.  Teachers are about 50/50, it’s either a much needed break because spring is too far away or it a nuisance that disrupts the school year.Unfortunately the group that just completely loses with mid-winter break, as is the case with most policy, are financially struggling families. The wealthiest districts have a full week off, and families generally expect and support it. Lower income areas generally don’t have a full week off, and for families it’s a tough time with basically no alternate activities for kids – there are no summer camps and whatnot in Feb. 

        • sam-c October 14, 2022 (8:13 am)

          I said it made “some sense.”    Not, “yes that is the only valid reason and 100% why they schedule  this.”  During the pandemic we stayed really healthy, it was only after being back in school, mixed with other kids, that we got colds and stuff again.  But everyone is just trying to do their best to get along in  the world; try being a little more gracious with others.

  • Person October 13, 2022 (10:08 am)

    The teachers have the SEA fighting for their interests. Who is speaking for parents? The school board? I’m asking in all seriousness. I’m not quite sure.

    • Sasquatch October 13, 2022 (11:45 am)

      Parents with a voice have expressed a desire to keep midwinter break because they’ve already booked trips to various skiing destinations. At least that’s the rumor going around among teachers.

      • M October 13, 2022 (12:27 pm)

        I’ve heard that rumor for YEARS as the explanation to why we even have winter break in the first place.  I really doubt that’s the reason.  Since when do parents have influence on the school board or union- ha.  I feel like if there’s high profile parents that have a voice, they’d be at private schools, not public.  This is purely in the hands of SPS and SEA.  

        • Sasquatch October 13, 2022 (12:54 pm)

          Regardless of who’s fault it is, many parents don’t send their kids to private school until high school. So many parents with money have their kids in public school for elementary and middle school. Which is why some schools in wealthy demographics get so much money from the PTA – and then that support ends in high school.

          • WSEA October 13, 2022 (2:50 pm)

            Technically, your comment about many sending their kids to private schools in high school is not correct.  I had an interesting debate about this with another parent and we ended up checking the research.  There are more going to private school at the lower grades than high school but its getting close to even. (I excluded preschool and kindergarden since they seem more specialized anyway).  https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d21/tables/dt21_205.15.asp Not sure about the funding comment but I’m interested in looking into the reason.  My guess is that its more about parent fatigue than enrollment.  Since I have a senior, I’m guessing we cut out early if it does go to july since he will know his college of choice and have some freedom before the real work begins. 

        • sam-c October 13, 2022 (2:09 pm)

          Purely anecdotal of course….But, pre-pandemic, seems like every family (with kids in school) that I talked to, that could afford to take vacations during that Feb. mid-winter break, all went to Hawaii.   Mid-winter break is right around that time where you need to get a break from the dreary dark and cold, and get a little boost to carry you to Spring.  (I’m still hoping to make it to Hawaii some day, myself…)

    • Curtis October 13, 2022 (8:39 pm)

      Your PTA is supposed to support parents… but in practice it is subservient to SEA union.  At Sealth the PTA spokesperson has publicly stated that parents are their lowest priority.

  • 937 October 13, 2022 (10:24 am)

    Called it.

    Enjoy school into July SPS attendees

    1023 hours – 10/13

  • High Point October 13, 2022 (10:29 am)

    This schedule is intended as retribution from the district towards teachers for striking this fall. They could have easily made up 5 days within the existing calendar year. They chose to make the year drag on into July so parents would not support teacher strikes in the future. I fear that the anti-teacher approach of the SPS will result in quality teachers leaving the district, and honestly I wouldn’t blame them.

    • M October 13, 2022 (10:49 am)

      False.  The make up dates had to be mutually agreed up between SPS and SEA.  

    • SPS parent October 13, 2022 (11:01 am)

      Do you have any proof that it’s retribution or are you just trying to escalate this?  I think mid-winter break is in the contract — put there by the teachers & union.  When my kids first started at SPS years ago, mid-winter break used to be only every other year and then it was made yearly via contract negotiations.  I’ve always disliked mid-winter break as a parent, but it was what the teachers wanted.  So, not seeing how this is anti-teacher.  

    • CarDriver October 13, 2022 (11:19 am)

      HP. Reading some of the comments from parents here i feel for the teachers. They’re clearly the only target parents are taking out their anger on. My sister spent 40 years teaching in SPS. She has a LOT of parent stories to tell!!!

    • Adam October 13, 2022 (11:56 am)

      So your take is that we should not hold this against those poor teachers and instead put it all on the district? Is everyone so insane that when two sides are both terribly wrong we still have to play for our team and put on cheerleader outfits? We’ve been let down by both sides. Time and time again. So why would any of you have “a side”? I mean we can put this argument up against the left vs right, pro or anti policing, Dems vs Reps, vaccines and mask mandates vs none, anything. We’ve lost all ability to use critical thinkings skills, to properly apply sensible rationale and good logic to these things. If we don’t fix that, we’ll never get past any of these issues. 

    • 937 October 13, 2022 (12:35 pm)

      WOW HP – Spin much??1235 hours 10/13

  • M. October 13, 2022 (10:36 am)

    I feel like since Covid was a thing. They should be prepared enough to hold online classes on snow days. 

    • Reggie October 13, 2022 (10:57 am)

      you are so right…. As a teacher in “another district”  thanks to technology there are no such things as “snow days”.. In addition, SPS the 1st commenter is correct… SPS is being petty and taking it out on your kids and teachers….  My advice to parents  do NOT have you kids go those days….  Make a boundary with SPS… Have the school board members pay for the childcare those days… Remember, some of these folks are democratically elected.  Just saying…. Also, you can easily get rid of a superintendent as well… This one is on them…

      • zark00 October 13, 2022 (2:44 pm)

        We can’t easily get rid of the superintendent – not even remotely. The board selects and confirms the SI. Even if we found a way to replace the entire school board, we would have zero guarantees they’d fire the SI and select a new one. Actually, they almost definitely would not do that.  We can’t even get Chandra Hampson off the board and she was found to have “violated board policy 5207 which prohibits harassment, intimidation and bullying” wrt two black women who Hampson and DeWolf apparently didn’t like and tried to bully and intimidate into silence. Hampson has cost us thousands in legal fees defending her bullying people. She even appealed, and lost the appeal, which cost us even more. 

    • Adam October 13, 2022 (11:58 am)

      Well since it’s very debatable whether you gain any more  educational benefit from online learning vs building a snowman and throwing snow at buddies, guess which one my son will be doing

    • K October 13, 2022 (12:44 pm)

      This would probably be fine in middle- to upper-middle class areas.  SPS and teachers had to do a LOT of coordinating to get their homeless and low income students tablets and internet, and the other necessities of online learning when COVID shut down in-person learning.  Not every household has those, and mandating snow days be virtual would leave those families behind.

    • Frog October 13, 2022 (4:03 pm)

      It’s against the Geneva Conventions to hold online classes on snow days.  My kids told me so.  They also wouldn’t be anywhere near a computer if there was decent snow on the ground.

  • 8th grade parent October 13, 2022 (11:10 am)

    I was told by our middle school principal that the school district was not taking opinions from parents on make up days.  An explanation as to why the district decided to add to the end of the year instead of eliminating mid winter break would be appreciated.  If the superintendent’s goal is “180 days of academic excellence” than extending  into July would not be the solution.  It’s pretty clear that students and teachers lose focus towards the end of the year.   This seems like wasted learning potential. I understand that some families have plans over mid winter break but they would have the rest of the year for make up. It’s pretty telling that SPS was not interested in our opinions 

  • Ruining July vacations October 13, 2022 (12:32 pm)

    I knew that would happen for extending after end of the school year!   I don’t think it would be fair to have school in July. The school boards should reconsider to drop these extended dates and end on the original date and ruining the summer break to be short!!  Ugh! I’m thinking by not letting my kid to go to school to July.  Nah!!! No thanks!  It’s summer!  

  • tn October 13, 2022 (12:47 pm)

    This sucks for seniors. I’ll just tell my kids we wanted to magic of their senior year to last as long as possible. ;-)  I’m assuming w/ graduation being delayed, they will still get out a bit earlier than the rest. If not, they can skip for all I care. It’s not like they are still learning the last week.

    • Jim October 13, 2022 (2:03 pm)

      Typically seniors don’t have to do makeup days because their graduation date is set so as long as they need all the requirements it’s a done deal

  • Lore October 13, 2022 (1:12 pm)

    You all as the parents have all the power to change anything in the schools district. Empower your selves by becoming a united community, then and only then do the schools boards will listen. Just like the teachers do, they united and go in strikes went their voices are not heard. School time off doesn’t only affect parents, it affects teachers too (most teachers are parents) and they need the time off to recharge, finished district requirements, work in class room projects or participate in schools trainings. Teachers don’t have all summer off, they must do trainings that are required by the district, so they can perform better and be up-to-date with the education system curriculum.

  • SPS parent who will be on summer break in July no matter what October 13, 2022 (1:15 pm)

    Disappointed with the schedule but guess what… we as parents have a choice to send our children to school.My family was ready to start on time. Did everything asked of us. Not blaming either side, it’s just a fact that we expected to start at a certain time and that didn’t happen. It caused some headaches with managing childcare, work schedules, etc.So will I be changing my end of June/4th of July vacation plans to accomdate this changed timeline? No way.

    • John October 13, 2022 (2:05 pm)

      I also must say when it comes to those makeup days and the final days of school anyway it’s just all about funding and meeting the minimum number of days because they’re not learning anything when they go in on those final days. When I was in Middle School our final days we were required to help clean up the classrooms and stack chairs like we were janitorial staff not students. Other classes we simply signed yearbooks and talked.

    • same October 13, 2022 (2:15 pm)

      Another SPS parent here, no way will my kid be in school those days. As others have said, end of year days are never valuable for learning- this will be doubly true for days after July 4.The more interesting question is how many teachers will suddenly be sick for those days. I’m sure a lot of them will feel some sniffles come end of June. Will SPS even be able to find enough subs to hold classes? If they can’t, what happens since they will be short of the 180 days?

      • Ok October 13, 2022 (6:48 pm)

        What are talking about, no real learning? Sure, curriculum may be finished. But the last days of school is when we say good bye to our classroom family, we wrap up the year and talk about how far we’ve come, we do special things and activities at the end of the year, like field day or just going outside to read in the warm sun. Learning isn’t bound by reading, writing and math. Learning to say good bye and understanding how far you’ve come is also learning. Do I want to work until July? Not really. But pulling your kid under the guise that real learning is over is so silly. Just let your kid finish the year with their classmates and teacher. 

    • CarDriver October 13, 2022 (4:06 pm)

      SPS parent. Actually, you come across as blaming the teachers. Guess they’re the most convenient target. Speaking of vacations parents have been getting their kids excused for vacations that cause kids to miss some school day’s for a long time. It’s certainly not a new thing.

      • 937 October 14, 2022 (11:03 am)

        I’m sorry to say it… But it IS the teacher’s fault… The district shares the blame. I say it’s 50/50 and yet the families and students shoulder the result. Both before AND after the “strike”.

        Our kids were ready to start school when the strike delayed it. Our kids are ready for summer to begin on June 26th. Now both those dates are kaput. We ARE going to get snow this year (it may be smoky snow) So we ARE going to have dates into July.  Mark my words.

        It is NOT the students fault. It is NOT the parents fault. That leaves the fault to the teachers and the administration. Yet we, the taxpayers suffer, AGAIN.

        1105 – 10/14

        • CarDriver October 14, 2022 (8:42 pm)

          937. Sooooooo how would you like teachers punished??? 

  • TJ October 13, 2022 (1:22 pm)

    Ridiculous. I don’t believe parents complained about vacations on that break. Taking vacation when the school year ends is a thing too. Mid winter break wasn’t around not too long ago. No reason it needs to now. And people need to understand the SEA and teachers is the same thing. The union represents their interests so if this was a union decision then blaming teachers holds merit 

    • JJ October 14, 2022 (5:56 am)

      People wonder why teachers are leaving the profession in droves…

  • MercyMoi October 13, 2022 (1:59 pm)

    I hope everyone realizes that school was scheduled to get out June 26th – which is extremly late anyway. This feels like when people are willing to pay $14.95 but cringe at $15. I’m for Year-Round School myself, with breaks scattered throughout the year, so this doesn’t bother me at all.

    • JC October 13, 2022 (5:06 pm)

      Same here, all year school would be fantastic, way less loss of learning. 

    • JJ October 13, 2022 (6:58 pm)

      Agreed, MercyMoi! Friday, June 30th doesn’t seem much worse than Monday, June 26th.I’ll add as a teacher that the worry was a sub shortage over Mid-Winter Break because many educators already have travel plans. The SPS sub shortage is a BIG problem.

  • June October 13, 2022 (2:36 pm)

    Hey parents stop the complaining! Due to the fact lots of parents see school as babysitter services anyway. If you don’t like it then you have the choice as an adult not to send your child to school and call to say that they are sick! Back in the days when most people went to school who are older adults now we had no such thing as a week off in February to begin with!  Just be happy that school doors are open and your child didn’t die from Covid and teachers didn’t die from Covid and you yourself are still alive from Covid to complain in the first place.  Also, teachers are only given so many sick days and if they go beyond the number of sick days they have then the amount of hours not at work is deducted from their paycheck and therefore will make it more difficult for teachers to pay their bills or snap I forgot lots of teachers have a second job to help pay their bills

  • Hannah October 13, 2022 (7:16 pm)

    We the teachers need that vacation time to plan. Since school district only allow 1 hour a day to do so. Yes we do need the mid winter break.

  • bradley October 14, 2022 (12:10 pm)

    Why not make mid-winter a 4 day weekend instead?  That saves you 3 days of “extended” school.

  • Kadoo October 14, 2022 (3:11 pm)

    Mid February is prime instructional time in this climate. Only the affluent families are taking off to warmer climates. Some of them would do that even if school were scheduled. I’d say pare down the break around Presidents’ Day to a four day weekend and call it good. I’ve never agreed with mid winter break and I’m a retired educator. 

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