High School Gets Extended Memorial Day Weekend

This year's Memorial Day weekend will be a bit longer for Watchung Hills Regional students, after the school's board of education approved a plan to close the school on May 29, Monday.

The vote came after a plea from Derek Weisman, one of the board's student representatives, who noted Bernardsville and Hillsborough had extended the weekend. The schools are working on "giving back" vacation days that had been rescheduled after the October snowstorm left the district with two snow days available at the beginning of winter.

A warm and nearly snow-free winter kept the school from having to use any snow days, and students attended school on April 9, one of the previously-scheduled vacation days. The board did not act in time to return April 9 to the calendar as part of the spring break week.

"We work hard—I mean, there are SATs, ACTs coming up and AP tests," Derek said. "It would just be nice to know we're going to get it back."

Derek also requested two days added back, but Superintendent Frances Stromsland said she was concerned about using all of the available days. She noted it will be easy to adjust the end of the school year ahead of graduation, rather than risk a sudden change in scheduling in the event the school is forced to close.

"We just had a water main break in Watchung, and I just wouldn't feel too comfortable not having any days left," Dr. Stromsland said.

The board voted unanimously to close the school on May 29—after Board President Robert Horowitz asked if there were any "grinches who wouldn't vote"  for the change.