By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG
PLATTSBURGH — Many school districts were closed Wednesday morning as the latest winter storm hit the region and led to the cancelation of Regents exams.
The state tests are given three times a year and were slated to run through this week, the first round of exams scheduled for 2009.
But the inclement weather prompted many districts to cancel classes Wednesday, as meteorologists gave an ominous forecast of up to a foot of new powder.
About a half-dozen Regents exams were scheduled Wednesday in high schools across the tri-county area, but those tests, including French, Spanish and English exams, will now be postponed until the next set of Regents is offered in June.
The remaining Regents exams will continue through the week, unless district officials opt to keep schools closed another day until the wintry mix subsides.
For security reasons, each test must be given at the same time in each school, so the exams can't be rescheduled.
Knowing the storm was coming, state officials reminded local districts Tuesday about the testing policies and said that if classes were canceled, area students would have to wait until June to take the exams.
At AuSable Valley High School, about 160 students were affected by the cancelation.
"It's unfortunate, and we feel bad, especially for the students who prepared for the exams, but safety was our first priority," AuSable Central School District Superintendent Paul Savage said midday Wednesday.
"It was a tough call, but the weather just wouldn't cooperate, and we had to go on the side of safety first.
"And basically there's no makeup for this; students will be required to take it in June, and every school that canceled today is in the same boat."
ACCIDENTS
Safety was a concern among many residents Wednesday as the early dusting of snow quickly accumulated.
Highway crews kept busy through the day, working to clear area roads, and police were called out to several property-damage accidents as drivers struggled to stay on the road.
Around 2:30 p.m., a tractor-trailer rolled over on Interstate 87 and temporarily disrupted southbound traffic.
No injuries were believed to have been reported during the morning and midday accidents.
E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com
