With no school Thursday, Sioux Falls School District sets new snow day record

For the second consecutive day this week, the Sioux Falls School District has called in a snow day. There will be no school Thursday because of the ongoing winter storm.

Wednesday's announcement that there will be no school on Thursday sets a new record for the district, as it's the fifth day the district has called off because of inclement weather this year. Previous records of four snow days were set in the 2018-2019, 2012-2013 and 1996-1997 school years.

Other snow days this year have been on Dec. 16, Jan. 3, Jan. 4 and Feb. 22.

The district also set a record for late starts this year, with four passing on Dec. 9, Dec. 13, Jan. 5 and Jan. 9. Previous records of three late starts in one school year were set in the 2018-2019 and 2000-2001 school years.

With there being five snow days this school year, it's possible the district and school board could recommend extra days be added onto the end of the school year to make up for lost time.

If weather causes school closing, days will be made up at the end of the school year. The district’s calendar committee recommends finalized calendars to the school board each school year no later than the first regular board meeting in April, which is scheduled for April 10 this year.

As it stands now, May 21 is graduation, May 23-24 are high school semester tests and May 24 is set for the last day of school.

But, with five snow days set this school year, the calendar committee could recommend the last day of school move to May 31, for example.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls School District sees record number of snow days this year