Schools Could Receive Waiver for Snow Days
Jefferson County Schools have exhausted their reserve of snow days, according to Jefferson County Director of Schools, Dr. Charles Edmonds. As of Friday, February 27, 2015 students had missed a total of 12 days for inclement weather, mainly due to back to back storms that rocked the area during the last two weeks in February. Students have not attended school since before Valentine’s Day. However, they were scheduled to be out on February 16, 2015 in observance of President’s Day, with only the staff reporting to work.
Central Office Supervisor Sherry Finchum stated that the February 16th day, which was to serve as an in-service day, will not have to be made up because it can be switched with professional development day later in the year. Finchum, said that the local department of education received information from Nashville on Friday morning that indicated that a waiver might be obtained for up to three missed days. While it is not a common practice of the State to issue waivers for missed days, the Governor’s decision to declare Tennessee in a state of emergency has opened the door for limited waivers. With multiple school systems across the volunteer state having issues with exceeding their allocated snow days and with Jefferson County having shown diligence in allocating ten days for inclement weather, the likelihood of receiving a waiver is good, according to Finchum.
If Jefferson County is denied a waiver, two days will have to be made up later this school year. Currently, the school calender shows an extended Easter break for students, beginning on Thursday, April 2, with students not returning to school until Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Finchum said, should the waiver be denied, it is likely that Easter break would be shortened to just one day, Good Friday, using the Thursday and Monday as make up days. Should schools be closed on Monday or there after for inclement weather, at this time the State would only allow the application of waiver for three days total.
Director Edmonds said that he is hopeful that this will be the end of foul weather. According to Edmonds, other than a few minor problems, the school buildings came through the recent winter storms very well.
