Y2K Precaution Extends Vacation

Although Moorpark students returned to school Monday, their counterparts in Simi Valley have an extra week off.

The Simi Valley Unified School District decided to add an extra week to winter break to deal with any Y2K problems that might arise, said Cary Dritz, assistant superintendent.

“We thought we were being proactive in trying to avoid any serious concerns that would come up,” he said.

The district had its computers upgraded in time for the arrival of 2000, and Dritz said there haven’t been any problems. The extra week of vacation was intended as a precaution should any breakdowns arise in electric or phone service, he said.

“Because of the situation and all of the unknowns, we decided we wouldn’t take a chance,” he said. “Fortunately, everything worked out well.”

Instead of classes, the district scheduled three days of teacher workshops Wednesday through Friday.

The workshops are designed to help teachers prepare for instruction or give them time to deal with problems such as discipline, Dritz said. Every year the district holds three days of workshops, but this year they are clumped together during the break. The contract between teachers and the district requires that all teachers participate, he said.

Because of the three-week winter break, students had to begin school one week earlier, said Lisa Trent, president of the PTA at White Oak Elementary School.

“I think it is good, I like starting earlier in the summer,” she said. “The summer is so long. . . . And it gives kids time to recover from the holiday.”