Pasco schools set makeup days for hurricanes Helene, Milton
Pasco County schools are set to convert four early-release days into full class days in 2025 to recover instructional time lost due to hurricanes Helene and Milton. The designated days for this change are January 29, February 26, March 26, and April 30. This move follows a surge of questions from families regarding holiday and break plans, prompting the administration to act sooner than initially planned. Assistant Superintendent Kevin Shibley stated the decision aims to solidify families' plans while adhering to state instructional time requirements. While the proposal has been approved, board member Colleen Beaudoin raised concerns that students would not recover as much time as they had lost, suggesting additional days be added from scheduled long weekends.
Despite these concerns, the administration argued that many staff members indicated they would not be available on those proposed makeup days, leading to the current decision. The school district aims to balance recovery of instructional time without disrupting upcoming holidays and to prevent similar situations in future years. This proactive approach highlights the district's commitment to maintaining educational standards while addressing the needs of the community.