School year may be extended on South Whidbey

Graduation Day will likely be pushed back for South Whidbey High School seniors this year, due to class cancellations caused by the recent snowstorm and, before that, the power outage that turned out the lights on the South End.

High school students have missed three days of school so far this year, and when the South Whidbey School Board meets tonight, it will consider extending the school year.

Earlier, the district had expected to hold the last day of school for high school seniors on June 10, with commencement ceremonies following on June 11.

The proposed change to the calendar will push the last day of school to June 17, with graduation on June 18.

For K-11th grade students, the last day of school will move to

June 22 from June 17.

If more cancellations come, and students miss more than five days total this school year, the school calendar could get changed again in the months ahead.

“We’re crossing our fingers,” said SWHS principal Rob Merrell.

“It’s a little challenging when you haven’t made it to winter yet,” he said.

The school board is expected to consider the schedule change at its meeting Wednesday.

The board meets at 6:30 p.m. in the classroom next to the library at the South Whidbey Primary School campus.

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