COAL TOWNSHIP--While most students in our viewing area spent the day at home enjoying winter break, students in the Shamokin area were in school. They were making up days from the teacher's strike earlier this year.
School let out shortly after 12:15 in the Shamokin Area School District, and parents lined up to pick up their kids. Students were not originally supposed to be in school today, but because of a teacher's strike earlier this year, the district decided to add two school days onto the students' winter break.
"It's kind of just an inconvenience for parents and for the kids. It breaks up their christmas break a little bit," Matt Rodarmel said.
Because of the strike, school started on September 24th instead of September 8th in the Shamokin Area School District. The students missed 12 school days and now part of their winter breaks. But some don't mind.
"My daughter had no problem getting up early," Deborah Yost said.
Deborah Yost says it doesn't bother her that her daughter is going to school during winter break.
"It's better than going later on in June, so that's how I look at it. I'd rather them get it done, get it out of the way," Yost.
School officials say attendance at the elementary school was strong, but they would not comment on attendance at the high school. But if the student parking lot is any indication, well, I'll let you be the judge.
"Not too many kids," Andrew Traver said.
Andrew Traver says they didn't do much during class.
"We were just watching movies and playing cards. We were just sitting there," Traver said.
The only other school district in our viewing area that is making up days during winter break is the Scranton School District. But because of the bad weather, school was canceled in Scranton. Parents in Shamokin were concerned about the weather too.
"Parents were scrambling around yesterday trying to figure out if they were actually going to have school," Rodarmel said.
The last day of school is scheduled for June 17th.
