By Anita Firebaugh Contributing Writer
From the February 4, 2004 edition of The New Castle Record
Last week’s nasty weather has played havoc with the school calendar, leaving doubts about spring break.
Craig Couty school superintendent Dr. Rose Martin said the eight days students have missed will have to be figured into the calendar.
The school board was expected to look at the days missed at their meeting Feb.3.
The calendar had two snow days built into it. Those are gone. Students missed four days in December and four in January. The matter is further complicated by a day off for the Craig County Middle school students, they have missed none days. They were out of school wone day because a water main broke.
Students were scheduled to be out of school from April 9-16 for spring break. The calendar approved by the school board last year lopped days off from the end of that week. It is conceivable that students have lost April 14,15, and 16.
Graduation is scheduled for June 4. No one has suggested extending the school year-yet.
In the 2002-2003 school year, students lost 13 days of classes due to inclement weather. Since it’s just February, it is possible students will lose that much class time again this school year.
Students went to school two hours laten Thursday even though many other neighboring localities were closed.
Martin consulted with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Sheriff’s Office before determining the roads would be passable and safe.
The two-hour delay in opening gave the temperatures time to rise, too. Originally students had early dismissal because Thursday was a scheduled conference day.
Students need 990 hours or 180 days of instruction in the school year according to the law.
This requirement must be met. Because Craig County High School uses a block scheduling format that added a half hour to the school day some years ago, the school calendar is generally based upon the 990-hour mark. Younger students also go the longer day because the buses do not run separately for different aged students.
Martin said she is learning quickly that the weather her is different from the eastern coast.
“We’ve got to keep kids safe,” she said.
Juggling the calendar because of inclement weather is “part of living in this beautiful area.”
-Prepared by Shelly Koon
