By Mark O'Brien
AVERILL PARK -- Even before the first day of school, the attention in many Capital Region districts is already on winter break.
That is because a number of districts from Fulton to Rensselaer counties are cutting back on winter break.
"It's easier to be open when others are closed than to be closed when others are open," says Superintendent Josephine Moccia of Averill Park CSD, one of eight local districts curtailing the February break.
Moccia says her district had to cut somewhere thanks to a perfect storm of calendar conflicts: a late Labor Day, taking off certain religious holidays, and building in enough snow days. The options included cutting back on spring break--which Moccia says was not popular among the teachers--and starting classes before Labor Day.
"We could have started before Labor Day any other year because our teachers are very willing to do that," Moccia says, "but we have construction in our high school, so there was no way."
Other areas cutting back on their winter breaks include Amsterdam, Broadalbin-Perth, Canajoharie, Fonda-Fultonville, Gloversville, Hudson, and Johnstown. Families say it could impact annual vacations severely.
"I think the kids depend on it, and I think parents depend on it just to have that break in February," says Kelly Gross of Averill Park, adding that her family's usual trip to Florida that time of the year likely won't happen. "Otherwise it's a pretty long winter."
Still, others including her son seem less concerned about the shorter break.
"I think it's good, but it could be bad because kids need to take breaks on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays," Angus Gross says. "Yeah, so it's kind of in the middle."
"February break comes right after Christmas, so I don't think it's an issue," says Jennifer Silver of Averall Park. She has three children in the school district.
Moccia says next year could see similar scheduling conflicts, though. That is why even before this school year has begun, she is already working on getting that straightened out.
