C.O. schools racking up ‘snow days’ before winter

We’re still weeks away from the official start to winter, but Central Oregon school districts already are racking up snow days.

Jefferson County School District Superintendent Rick Molitor said Friday’s canceled school marks seven days total of closures this year — the highest number in about a decade.

Molitor also said that if the district shuts down again, schools will likely have to add days before releasing students for summer vacation.

The superintendent said Oregon class requirements are classified by instructional hours rather then days. He said the district has built-in extra buffer hours to not only compensate for missed school days, but to also give students better learning.

Redmond School District officials said they’ve canceled three days so far this year. Bend-La Pine Schools and the Crook County District have each canceled two days.