Local High Schools Scramble To Schedule Regents Exams

Several East End high schools had to reschedule numerous state Regents exams because of snow.Regents exams in several subjects are given to all public high school and most private high school students on the same dates throughout the state. There are, however, make-up days. The tests were originally scheduled to be administered throughout last week, but a nor’easter derailed the exams when 60-mph winds and more than 2 feet of snow forced schools to close.“It was a crazy week,” said Southampton High School Principal Dr. Brian Zahn. “It took a lot of work, because every time we would get the schedule set, we would have to cancel another day of school and start over again, making a new schedule and finding classrooms for the tests to be administered in.”The Southampton School District was forced to postpone several tests—including chemistry, English, earth science, and Common Core algebra—because it could not fit them all in on Friday. The students who need to take those tests will be able to sit for them in June, although Dr. Zahn said one graduating senior who was scheduled to take a test last week was able to sit for the exam Monday morning before the snow started.The district was able to offer global studies, U.S. history, integrated algebra, geometry and algebra 2/trigonometry Regents, for a total of 66 tests.In Southampton, six students had conflicts because of the reshuffling and had to choose which test to take on Friday, and which to postpone taking until June.The Westhampton Beach School District also had to reschedule several exams originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, and Wednesday, January 28, while it did offer nine different tests on Friday. In total, 107 students took tests last week.In East Hampton, Principal Adam Fine said the high school was able to reschedule seven tests on Friday that were originally scheduled for earlier in the week. After an early dismissal on Monday and three subsequent snow days, the high school was closed on Friday to all students except the test takers, to accommodate the roughly 130 students who needed to take the Regents.The East Hampton tests that had to be moved last week included chemistry, earth science, global history, U.S. history, geometry, integrated algebra and algebra 2/trigonometry.“The weather came and we were able to make the necessary changes and provide the testing necessary to these kids,” Mr. Fine said.