Dr. Kevin Whitaker

Because of New York state school calendar mandates, when there is inclement weather, Jamestown Public Schools officials may have to perform a juggling act with delays, holidays and snow days.

Thursday, the district was on a one-hour delay.

According to its FaceBook page, students were to arrive to elementary schools at 9:20 a.m.; to middle schools at 9:30 a.m.; and to the high school at 9 a.m.

Some sidewalks were ice covered.

Thursday’s forecast included mixed precipitation with a winter weather advisory that was expected to last until 1 p.m.

“The more days that get mandated that we have off, the more challenging it is to schedule a school year within the boundaries of the calendar and the minimum number of days,” Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said after a recent school board meeting.

The superintendent added the state mandates that school districts in New York State have to have at least 180 days, with more holidays added, the fewer days JPS can go beyond the mandatory 180 “just in case we have snow or cold or wind.”

“So this year, we had two (holidays) added in, and we are sort of right at that moment now where we have to really think long and hard about whether or not we can afford to take any more (snow days),” Whitaker noted.

Whitaker said that some years, the school calendar allows the district more room, while other years, the calendar does not.

“Last year was exceptionally tight. This year is a little better. So, I think we’re going to come out okay this year, but it’s going to be sort of a tap dance for the next few years for sure,” Whitaker said.

For today, a high of 31 and a low of 13. Conditions are supposed to be clear today, and partly cloudy tonight.