North Branford Mom Starts Petition to Shorten Future February Breaks

Over the past few years, it's been no secret that it's been a challenge to make up school days lost due to snow and hurricanes. This year, the last day of school is pushed back to June 25.

Between Hurricane Sandy and the Blizzard of 2013, students in North Branford schools have lost two days of their April vacation – April 18 and 19 – in addition to the district changing March 28 to a regular school day – it was supposed to be a professional development day. 

With the recent blizzard, North Branford schools closed from Feb. 8 to Feb. 12 – three days off – before returning on Feb. 13 to be in session for three days before having this week off for February vacation.

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Elizabeth Hoskins, a North Branford mother of two, is hoping to see some changes to the North Branford Public Schools calendar in the future. She has started a petition to present to the North Branford Board of Education. The petition reads:

We, the undersigned, would like to see the North Branford Public School system change the week-long February vacation to a 4 day weekend, effective for the 2013-2014 school year.

"The reality is that over a three-month period – the end of November through the end of February – our kids will be on vacation for four weeks," said Hoskins, referring to Thanksgiving break, winter break and February break. "Add snow days and we're adding at least another week – that's five weeks off over a 12-week period."

The Board of Education has already proposed its calendar for the 2013-14 school year, though it is not officially finalized until June. Right now, North Branford students are slated to return to school on Aug. 29 and get out on June 16 with the following vacations:

• Wednesday, Nov. 27 (1/2 day) to Friday, Nov. 29 
• Monday, Dec. 23 to Wednesday, Jan. 1
• Monday, Feb. 17 to Friday, Feb. 21
• Monday, April 14 to Friday, April 18

The 2013-14 calendar also stipulates that "days beyond seven snow days (June 25, 2014) will be taken from the beginning of Spring Recess (4-14 to 4-18). 

"If you would like to see the February vacation changed to a four-day weekend, please sign this petition," said Hoskins.