April 7, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer
April vacation, scheduled for April 21-24, has been cancelled. The April 20 Patriots Day holiday will be observed. This means that the projected last day of school is June 17 rather than June 23.
Last night the School Committee voted unanimously to accept the recommendation that April vacation be cancelled this year and to adjust the school calendar accordingly.
"Given the substantial disruption to student learning during this unprecedented closure and with the implementation of our new remote learning program, keeping both momentum and structure going at this time is critical," Supt. Paul Austin told the Hingham Anchor. "Although our school doors have been closed since March 13, our teachers have worked hard to keep learning alive for every Hingham student.
"I know this has not been easy for them, as many have their own families to attend to at home," Austin said. "However, I believe that the majority of teachers are also committed to the delivery of instruction during [the initially-scheduled April vacation time]."
Prior to the decision to cancel April vacation, Hingham school officials received guidance from the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reminding them that school districts that chose to observe April vacation would need to work until their scheduled 185th day of school.
Austin explained that for Hingham, the 185th day would be June 23. However, if a district chooses to cancel April vacation and work those four days instead, then the district would only be required to work to day 181, which is June 17.
"The School Committee vote last night determined that Hingham Public Schools will be in session (albeit remotely) April 21, 22, 23, and 24, and the last day of school is projected to be June 17, 2020," Austin said.