Snow days built into school calendar:Plan intended to keep school year from running into summer

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard(McMinnville, Tenn.)

HALE

After having to make up 14 missed school days due to snow several years ago, Warren County Schools took advantage of a state law which allows school systems to stockpile up to 13 snow days per year.

State law mandates all schools must operate at least 180 days a year. If, for whatever reason, a school system does not meet this requirement, the days must be made up. Such was the case locally during the 1995-1996 school year.

After missing 14 snow days, the school system that year had to cancel spring break, as well as extend the school day and the school year. The following year, the school board decided the system must be better prepared.

The result was the permanent extension of the school day by 30 minutes (15 minutes in the morning, 15 in the afternoon), which, over the course of a year, adds up to 13 extra days. This practice was allowed by the General Assembly about 10 years ago after several bad winters in the early ’90s caused widespread, lengthy school closings. Though used by the local system only for inclement weather, the accumulated days can also be used for staff development and parent-teacher conferences.

Since the system lengthened the school day to acquire the 13 inclement weather days, they have yet to use all 13 during any one year. However, the law states these days cannot be “refunded” if not used.

“It’s like an insurance policy,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale. “You pay your premium and if you need it, it’s there. If not, you don’t get your money back. This is our insurance policy against inclement weather.”

In making the decision to actually use one of the days, he said the primary consideration is whether buses can run safely. In determining whether to call off school, Hale said he relies on the system’s transportation department, which in turn seeks the input of the bus drivers around the county.

“Nearly half of our 6,200 students ride buses. If the buses can make it, we go, maybe late. If they can’t make it safely, we don’t go. That’s the primary factor,” Hale said.