This winter's blizzards have blown a hole through some school calendars in southwest Minnesota. Students in Luverne will have to remain in the classroom longer than scheduled this spring because snow days just keep piling up.
Luverne schools were scheduled to let out on May 17 this year. But the District is tacking on three extra make-up days, so the school year will end instead, on May 20th. That is, unless more bad weather this winter leads to even more snow days.
Howling winds and snowy roads have left hallways and classrooms in Luverne with an empty feeling this winter.
"It's certainly mother nature's way of reminding us that she's still in charge and makes the decisions for us," Luverne School Superintendent Craig Oftedahl said.
New superintendent Craig Oftedahl came to Luverne from Warroad, Minnesota, near the Canadian border, where surprisingly, snow days were a rarity.
"We only had two days in nine years that I called school off in my time at Warroad," Oftedahl said.
However, in a southwest Minnesota blizzard, it doesn't take a lot of snow to create treacherous conditions, especially for students who live in the country.
"80 percent of our students, that are bussed, are coming off gravel roads and so when that gravel gets plugged up, it's a tough go," Oftedahl said.
Still, some students say they run the risk of mentally checking out too soon with a longer school year.
"I guess it's going to be kind of harder, getting towards the end of the year. Concentration is going to start, I guess for everyone, is going to get harder," Luverne senior Jacob Van Santen said.
"You have to make up school, so it is what it is," Luverne senior Cori Nath said.
Any additional snow days could keep students in school after the seniors graduate.
"And I think anytime that you've culminated your year and then you bring students back after graduation, it's a little awkward, but there's still some learning that can take place," Oftedahl said.
The odds of more make-up days seem likely since we aren't even halfway through the month of February.
"I would assume mother nature may not be done yet," Oftedahl said.
In addition to the three snow days this winter, Luverne schools have also had two late starts, including one on Tuesday, plus an early dismissal.