Posted February 20, 2008------------------------------------------------

"Because of the second day that we were out basically, we do not have enough hours of instruction in some of our schools," says Madison Public Schools superintendent, Art Rainwater.

With just a few more months of school left, area school districts must now make up days of instruction lost. The many record breaking winter storms we've seen this season have forced schools to close despite state regulations.

"Over the years I would have to say that this is on the high end in terms of number of days missed," says Cambria-Friesland Public Schools superintendent, Tony Hinden. "It's not uncommon for school districts to have 1, 2, 3 snow days missed when you get beyond 3 it's rather unusual.

In the state of Wisconsin schools are required to be in session for 180 days of the academic school year and here in Cambria Friesland the school district has had 4 snow days putting them four days behind of the requirement.

"We could easily be into the second week of June and if this weather keeps up perhaps the third week of June."

Hinden predicts the school board might have to add days to the end of the year to make up for lost time in class. Here in Madison students will see longer school days in order to meet the requirements.

"My recollection is that they have to make up 7 minutes a day in order to reach the number of hours that we have to have," says Rainwater.

The requirements for each school can be slightly different and are determined by a number of factors specific to each school. The decision ultimately lies in the hands of the school board. Most school districts have until March to make any schedule changes and although Madison schools have made adjustments, future school closings could change that.

"We just simply do now know what the rest of the winter is going to be like and therefore we can't make a decision at this time," says Hinden.