As long as there are no more snow days, the Pattonville School Board has approved for the Class of 2014 seniors’ last day of school to be May 28, the day before graduation. Although there has been much discussion on the seniors’ final day of high school due to inclement weather, the school board was able to come to this conclusion because it will allow for the school district to reach the state of Missouri’s attendance standards.

May 28 was chosen to be seniors’ last day because of all the days missed due to inclement weather.

“It has to do with the hours, not necessarily the days. Since students get out of school an hour earlier on Thursdays, the hours and minutes are shorter,” said senior counselor Ms. Stacey Leonard when being asked about the seniors’ last day of high school.

The last day of actual classes for seniors will be Friday, May 23 in which they will take their last finals, but seniors must return back to school the following Tuesday and Wednesday for attendance purposes. On those days, according to Ms. Leonard, seniors will participate in various activities pertaining to graduation.

“There’s going to be a graduation practice, a time when seniors pick up their caps and gowns, a mandatory exit survey required by the state that all seniors must take, laptop collection, the Alumni Association will be presented to seniors, and honor cords will be distributed. There will also be a senior barbecue,” Leonard said.

It is not yet confirmed whether or not seniors will be required to stay for the entire school day on May 27 and 28 or whether they will be dismissed at 10:30 a.m.

There has been much discussion as to why Pattonville seniors are let out from school much later than other schools nearby. Leonard said that is because Superintendent Dr. Mike Fulton is a very strict rule follower.

“Our district is sticklers for following the law. When the state tells us that we need to be in school for a certain amount of time, Dr. Fulton and the School Board makes sure that we follow those requests,” Leonard stated.

Although many questions are still  unanswered, continue to check PattonvilleTODAY.com for updates on the senior schedule and what will be occurring during the mandatory attendance days seniors will have.