Broward public schools calendar changes because of hurricane closures. What to know

Winter break ends a day early for Broward County Public Schools students and teachers.

Broward School Board members decided to extend the first semester to make up for school days that were canceled due to back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton. The board voted Tuesday to change the current calendar to require students to return to class from winter break a day earlier on Jan. 6, 2025, which was previously designated as a teacher planning day.

The first semester now ends Jan. 9. The following day, a Friday, is now a teacher planning day, which means a day off for students. Exam schedules were not affected, said BCPS spokesperson Nadine Drew.

The board also designated certain days students already have off from school as “severe weather days” in the event there are more hurricanes or severe storms that would cause school closures between now and the end of hurricane season. Those days are Nov. 25 and 26 and March 31.

Unless a hurricane pops up between now and Thanksgiving, schools are still closed the entire week of Nov. 25. Fingers crossed.

The changes were made so the district could still comply with the state’s required instructional hours despite closing for three days due to the hurricanes.

Broward schools were closed for one day in September in anticipation of Hurricane Helene. Earlier this month, schools were closed for two days due to Milton. In Miami-Dade, classes remained in session during Milton. South Florida saw minimal damage from both hurricanes, which battered western and central Florida. Miami-Dade County Public Schools does not need to adjust its calendar, a spokesperson said.

Anna Fusco, the Broward Teachers Union president, said the School Board needs to better plan ahead for closures due to severe weather “instead of flying by the seat of our pants.” The last minute change inconveniences Broward school employees that already planned to not be at work or had vacations scheduled on Jan. 6, she said. Most employees typically have planning days off work, she said.

Fusco pointed out a similar issue with the Nov. 25 and 26 severe weather days, when many teachers and families would already have vacations planned for Thanksgiving.

“Instead of having conversations with all stakeholders of what would be the best course to take, they just went right into it, as the board usually does,” she said. “Just rushes into a decision without having fruitful conversations, strategies and alternatives.”

This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 5:59 PM.