OKC Schools To Extend School Day To Make Up Snow Days

Rusty Surette, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City School board has voted to add 40 minutes to the end of each school day from March 3 through May 24 to make up for snow days.

Oklahoma City Public Schools have missed six school days and a Parent/Teacher conference day because of snow. The district has three snow days built into the calendar, but with the boards approval of the longer school day, those days will still be available. The built in snow days were not used so the district could "ensure flexibility in case other issues arise."

Other business at the board meeting included the full day expansion of the district's Pre-K program. The district plans to hire at least 30 Pre-K teachers every year for the next four to five years.

There was also discussion of moving 6th grade students from Centennial and John Marshal schools to elementary schools, but the board did not vote on that plan Monday night.  

New school board member Jay Means was also sworn in Monday night and in his speech that followed, he took a verbal swipe at the Oklahoma City Superintendent Karl Springer. Means said he was offended that the Superintendent never called to congratulate him following the election.

"Mr. Springer, since you have not found the time in the last two weeks after the election to call and congratulate me nor to welcome me to the board of education let me take the opportunity to introduce myself to you. I am Jay Means," Means said during his speech at the board meeting Monday. "Mr. Springer, I think it is always incumbent on a superintendent, any superintendent, to call a newly elected board member regardless of the situation."