When a subzero cold snap hit Northwest Indiana in late January, several schools closed for most of the week.
Now, select schools will have the option to write off missed weather days, a state spokesman said. The rules were issued in a memo on Feb. 22.
Qualified schools or districts that earned an A grade have been allowed to “bank up” school time, effectively letting them cancel out those days if they have enough hours saved, Indiana Department of Education spokesman Adam Baker said.
Munster announced in March via Facebook its school year would end on time on May 24. At that time, it had four days to make up — with one already done on Presidents’ Day.
Three others would be excused with approval by the Indiana Department of Education, it said.
Eligible high schools had to earn an A under the state’s accountability grading system the prior year. It would lose eligibility when it earns a C for one year, or B for two straight years.
The February memo states all districts and high schools who qualify in 2019-20 to be able to write off saved time for 2018-19. In Northwest Indiana, that would include Hanover, Lake Central districts and Griffith, Hobart and Hebron high schools.
Eligible school districts:
* Hanover School Corp. (2019-20 only)
* Lake Central School Corp. (2019-20 only)
* Tri-Creek School Corp. (Lowell)
* Crown Point School Corp.
* School Town of Munster
* Duneland School Corp.
* East Porter County School Corp.
* Union Township School Corp.
* Valparaiso Community Schools
Lake County high schools:
* Lake Central High School
* Lowell High School
* Crown Point High School
* Griffith High School (2019-20 only)
* Hobart High School (2019-20 only)
* Munster High School
* Whiting High School
Porter County high schools:
* Hebron High School (2019-20 only)
* Chesterton High School
* Washington Township Middle/High School
* Morgan Township Middle/High School
* Boone Grove High School
* Wheeler High School
* Valparaiso High School