Name: More snow days could complicate spring academic calendar
Uploaded: 2025-01-21T22:13:42+00:00
Duration: 2 min 4 s
Description: As central North Carolina braces for another winter storm, school districts are faced with the critical decision of altering school schedules, which could impact the remainder of the academic year.

As central North Carolina braces for another winter storm, school districts are faced with the critical decision of altering school schedules, which could impact the remainder of the academic year.

As another winter storm approaches central North Carolina, school district leaders must weigh whether to modify their school schedules.

They also have to consider how that could have a domino effect on the rest of the school year.

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“Everybody loves to be out of school. All of us love that snow day, but nobody really enjoys having to come back at a different time to make up the time that's missed,” said Tamani Anderson Powell.

Powell is the director of marketing and communications in the office of magnet and curriculum enhancement programs for Wake County schools. She also acts as the liaison who works on all of the instructional calendars.

According to the state calendar law, each district must have 185 days or 1,025 hours of instruction.

“A local board of education may revise the closing date in its adopted School Calendar only if it determines that it is necessary to extend the School Calendar to provide the required 185 days and 1,025 hours of instruction,” according to NCDPI.

Many districts add in extra days or hours to avoid having to make modifications to the calendar. WRAL checked in with all of the largest school districts in our viewing area.

“We're in good shape at the moment, but of course, we're always planning ahead and what if any changes or adjustment adjustments that we might have to make down the road,” Andy Jenks, chief communications officer for Chapel-Hill Carrboro schools.

Between HVAC issues and winter weather, WRAL asked Wake County school officials how many days Wake County Schools has left. According to the district calendar, the next makeup day that could be used would be Feb. 17, which is currently a teacher workday.

“Using one teacher workday is a challenge because a lot of times, students and families have already made plans, perhaps some professional development or a vacation for a family,” Powell said.

A WCPSS spokesperson said the district includes 1,062 hours in its traditional school calendar. By law, they only need 1,025. So, that leaves 37 hours of extra built-in instructional time.

So far this year, the district cancelled school twice – on Sept. 27 and Jan. 3.

The district also dismissed students early on Jan. 10, the last time central North Carolina was hit with a winter storm. That leaves 22 hours, or three full school days left over.

Jenks said Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools doesn’t anticipate adding days due to school closures. Even if schools need to close for more days, he said there are other options, including virtual learning.

How districts make the call to close

When any weather event could have impacts in Wake County, they consult with their own Severe Weather Team.

NC school closures: How do districts decide when to close due to weather?

“[The team] monitors forecasts and road conditions closely before and during potential weather events. When inclement weather is a possibility, we collaborate with our Transportation Team, which conducts firsthand road assessments early in the morning,” a spokesperson told WRAL News before the last winter weather event on Jan. 10.

Jenks said it’s all about safety for Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools.

“We're keeping an eye on the forecast and first of all, determining whether school can proceed safely for the remainder of the week,” he said.

WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell asked districts in 2023 what guidelines they follow in making the decision to cancel school in severe weather. The thought process varies from county to county.