More districts doing away with winter break

The movement is accelerating across Long Island to use February's midwinter school break to make up for class time lost to superstorm Sandy.

The regional BOCES provide special services to the Island's public school districts, such as vocational classes, and changes in their scheduling often reflect wide-ranging trends.

Western Suffolk BOCES reported Thursday, for example, that all 18 school districts within its service area had canceled all or most of the weeklong February break.

"What we know is that our No. 1 job is educating our students, so we have to make sure they get as much instructional time as they need," Nassau BOCES superintendent Thomas Rogers said.

Eastern Suffolk BOCES reported that 18 of its 50 districts had canceled all or part of the midwinter breaks, and that other systems were considering the move.

The eastern portion of the Island was less affected by Sandy.