Muskogee Public Schools added five days to the end of the school year and bumped Muskogee High School commencement to June 1 to make up for days missed by recent snow and ice storms.

But students and school staff still will be able to take their spring break in March.

The Muskogee Board of Education approved the revised school calendar Tuesday at its regular meeting.

Muskogee schools missed nine days because of ice storms and snow. School was canceled for two days in early December, seven days during the mid-January ice storm and on Feb. 1 because of snow.

The district made up one snow day on Monday, President’s Day, which had been scheduled as a professional development day. Teachers will have a half day for professional development this Saturday.

School also will be in session next Monday, a day originally set aside for parent-teacher conferences. Parent-teacher conference day was moved to March 3.

Muskogee School Superintendent Mike Garde said he did not want to schedule any make-up days during spring break, March 19-23, because many people already had made plans for that week.

However, school will be in session on Good Friday, April 6.

Remaining school days will be made up at the end of May.

The last day of school in Muskogee originally had been set for May 23, with graduation on May 25, a Friday.

The revised schedule has students going to school May 24 and 25, out for Memorial Day and back May 29, 30 and 31.

“We moved graduation to June 1,” Garde said. “We have held up sending graduation announcements to the printer so they can reflect the later date.”

Under the new schedule, Muskogee High School commencement will be June 1, a Friday, at Indian Bowl Stadium.

January snow storms forced several area school districts to adjust their schedules.

The Hilldale Board of Education voted Monday to have class on March 16, a day originally set aside for parent teacher conferences. Parent teacher conferences were moved to March 15. Other Hilldale school make-up days are April 6 and May 21, 22 and 23.

Fort Gibson Schools added a class day last Monday and will have make-up days on April 13 and May 21-23. May 23 will be the last day of school for students, barring any more snow days. The date for graduation will not change.





At a glance

In other business, the Muskogee School Board:

• Administered oath of office to new member Stacy Alexander.

• Heard bond issue presentation from District Maintenance and Facilities Director Wayne Johnson.

• Approved increase in general fund appropriation of $2,388,926.86 (a new total will be $40,245,811.42) because of additional state and federal funds received after the original budget was approved.

• Approved $26,940 bid from Superior Graphics & Signs for LED sign for high school.

• Approved $29,850 bid from Standard Roof for restoration of Whittier Elementary roof.

• Agreed to let Whittier Character Club to go to Medieval Times and Tournament attraction in Dallas.

• Approved revision on school calendar.

• Approved MHS academic planning booklet and 2007-2008 course offerings.

• Agreed to participate in Riverside Publishing National Research study for kindergarten, first and second grades.

• Recognized Teachers of the Month: Ben Franklin Science Academy kindergarten teacher Cindy Mask, BFSA third grade teacher Anita Pearson, BFSA sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade teacher Michelle Behrens and 7th and 8th Grade Center science teacher Mary Beth Flusche.