Cherry Hill Schools Making Up Lost Days Nov. 8 and 9

With the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) canceling its annual conference next week, Cherry Hill School officials have opted to take what would've been two days off from school and use them as makeup days for time lost because of Hurricane Sandy.

The decision followed discussion with the school board and confirmation with the district's busing and food service vendors, Superintendent Maureen Reusche said in a statement Thursday night.

“I believe it is prudent to use these days that have become available,” Reusche said.

The district is not, however, putting schools back in session on Election Day, when many of the district's buildings will be used as polling places. Reusche said the traffic associated with a presidential election would be too great to consider putting students in the schools used for the polls.

Reusche acknowledged the decision to use Nov. 8 and 9 as makeup days would likely be met with mixed reaction, but said it was the right decision for the district, given the three missed days—and four for students at Cherry Hill West.

The flexibility parents have shown this week, as township workers and PSE&G crews got to the task of restoring power knocked out by the storm, has been appreciated, Reusche said, and more of that flexibility is needed as the school year gets back on track.

“I ask for your understanding in light of the extraordinary circumstances that we have faced as a community this week,” she said.

Most issues that plagued the district following the storm have been resolved; West, the last building without power, has been restored, and students there will have classes as normal Friday.

The only lingering problem is the phone system at the Malberg administration building, where phone lines into and out of the building are still down.