Iassogna: No Penalty for Vacations This Week

The school district will not penalize students who have plans to go away for what used to be February vacation.

In a recent letter, Schools Supt. Ralph Iassogna outlined several measures the district would be undertaking.

February break was supposed to run this week, but schools will be in session Tuesday through Friday.

"During the rescheduled vacation week, we will be striving to continue our academic programming in as least disruptive manner given the circumstances.  Principals are currently working with teachers to develop a learning plan for those students who will be on vacation," Iassogna wrote.

Specifically, the letter states: 

• Student absences will be excused and students will not be penalized for missing school that week.
• Students will be given adequate time to make up required work without penalty or loss of grade.
• The learning plan will include CMT/CAPT preps and assignments linked to classroom instruction taking place during the rescheduled week.

The Board of Education's initial decision to cancel the February break received mixed reactions from students.

junior Jessica Tyburski commented, “I think that taking away the February break is better than being stuck in school until the end of June when it’s nice out.”

Becky Grinberg, a junior at Trumbull High School said, “My family planned our trip for February because we thought that it was definite and the policy was that snow days would be taken out of April. Now I have no way to cancel and it’s going to be hard to catch up on school.”

With the loss of February break, students will be off in April unless additional snow days occur. The last day of school is scheduled for June 22 with Trumbull High School graduation planned for June 21.

One additional snow day means the school year will be extended until June 23, and further days will eat into April vacation, Iassogna has said.