Pearl River Schools In Session Tuesday

The Pearl River School District lost one full day of classes at all of its schools and at least two at Evans Park Elementary and Franklin Avenue Elementary due to power outages caused by the snow storm Oct. 29.

That led to the district's decision to cancel the Superintendent’s Conference Day scheduled for Nov. 8, which will now be a regular school day for all Pearl River schools.

"When it gets later in the year, there is less chance to recoup days," said Pearl River School District Director of Quality and Community Relations Sandra Cokeley. "Where you can recoup a day with minimal impact, it is never a bad idea.

"In past years when we've had a large number of snow days, we have changed the spring Superintendent's Day. I don't ever remember having a snow day this early, not in my 23 years here."

Pearl River reopened the high school, middle school and Lincoln Avenue Elementary Tuesday, but Evans Park and Franklin Avenue remained closed and without power. The district was still waiting to hear if Evans Park and Franklin Avenue would have power in time to reopen Wednesday.

Nov. 8 is election day, which has traditionally been a Superintendent's Conference day in Pearl River and many other school districts. Two Pearl River schools will be election sites that day, Pearl River High School and Evans Park Elementary. The district has already made plans to ensure that there will be adequate parking for voters at both locations. 

"We made arrangement to keep (parking) spots open for voters," Cokeley said. "That was taken into account before we made the decision."

At the high school, that will mean spaces in the parking lot by Pirate Cove and the gymnasium will be kept open.

At Evans Park Elementary School, the front row by the entrance to the building will be kept open for voters.