By JEAN L. KAESS

CENTERVILLE, La. — Jan. 7, March 22 and May 29 were designated as makeup days for those missed during Hurricane Isaac.

Due to the hurricane, St. Mary Parish schools were closed three days, Aug. 28-30. The days must be made up under state law in order to provide an appropriate number of instructional minutes to students during the school year.

While the first three emergency dates in the official 2012-13 school calendar were Oct. 12, 15 and 16, there were numerous objections to the fall break being interrupted as vacations, doctor appointments and procedures already had been scheduled. Thus, high absenteeism by students and staff were expected to be high, according to Assistant Superintendent Keith Thibodeaux.

“Additionally, with the myriad of changes occurring this year at the state level, the Oct. 16 professional development/teacher-parent conference day is greatly needed,” Thibodeaux said, adding that the conference is required by the state for the parent of a child who is failing his classes.

Jan. 7 will cause school to begin on the Monday following Christmas break instead of the Tuesday as the original calendar intended.

March 22 originally was scheduled as a professional development/teacher-parent conference day. It was not a student contact day.

May 29 (report card day) was not scheduled as a full day.