CONTACT:  Wendy V. Long, Public Relations

                        (413) 685-1003

Huntington – The Parent-Teacher Conference day—a day off for students in all Gateway schools—has been rescheduled for March 26, 2007. 

The original 2007-2008 school year calendar had the spring conference date scheduled for March 19th.  At issue was the MCAS Composition exam, which the state has scheduled for March 20th.  Teachers expressed concern over having students sit for this exam on the first day following a three-day weekend. 

The state scheduled the MCAS Composition date after Gateway had set its school calendar for the 2006-2007 school year.  The Massachusetts Department of Education requires that all schools hold the composition exam on the same date.

Students will not attend school on March 26th, and classes will now be held on March 19th.

Also, the School Committee voted to approve five additional late start days for high school students in grades 9, 11 and 12 on the following dates: 3/20, 3/21, 3/22, 5/22, and 5/23.  MCAS tests will be given to current tenth graders on these dates, marking their first opportunity to pass the MCAS exam as a requirement for a high school diploma.  This is the 3rd year that the rest of the school has started later on those days. 

Tenth grade students will be bussed to school along with Gateway Regional Middle School students, as usual.  Bus companies will make their elementary school runs, and follow with a second high school run on those dates.  All 9th, 11th, and 12th grade students are advised to report to their bus stops ten minutes early, as the bus runs are likely to go quickly for only three grades.

The cost of the extra bus runs is comparable to the cost of hiring extra subs on the testing days, needed to supervise the examination.  Without the other grades attending, the regular high school faculty will be able to oversee the exam.

There will also be a late-start day on March 15th, as originally scheduled in the calendar.