Both York County and WJCC schools have taken the results of their surveys and chosen make-up days for the lost time earlier this semester.
York
York announced on Tuesday that 72 percent of the participants in their survey chose Nov. 12 as their make-up day, according to the district’s website. Previously, students had the day off to recognize Veterans Day.
Administrators are aware of the inconvenience this could potentially pose to staff who already made plans, said Katherine Goff, spokeswoman for the district.
“Administrators are gathering data to ensure that there is minimal impact to bus, cafeteria and maintenance schedules,” Goff said.
But as winter approaches, the district has to be wary of anymore future weather that could cause missed school.
“While some banked time remains, the superintendent and the division leadership team determined that scheduling a make-up day at the next available opportunity is not only in our student’s best academic interest but also prudent given the history of winter weather in recent years,” Goff said.
If future months prove to disrupt the schedule again, the district has currently marked off-days and half-days to fall back on.
All these delays pose disruption for education plans as well.
When the schedule changes as much as it did this fall, teachers have to readjust their lesson plans. In doing so, Goff said teachers will have to look at their students’ educational needs to determine how to best benefit them in terms of pacing and lessons.
Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
In WJCC schools, the survey results showed a 78 percent preference for Jan. 24 as the make-up day, according to the district’s website.
“Our two best options were to add time before the Thanksgiving holiday or at the end of the first semester,” said Olwen E. Herron, WJCC schools superintendent, on the website. “Either of those choices had the potential to impact families and staff greatly. Therefore, it was important for them to have a voice in the matter and for me, as Superintendent, to honor their input.”
Students will now have a half-day on Jan. 24. To accommodate end-of-semester exams for high school students, the testing dates have now been changed to take place on both Jan. 23 and Jan. 24.
The date was built into the calendar previously as a potential make-up day, but is traditionally used during the winter months with the expectation of snow causing school closings.
“The addition of an early release day on Jan. 24 addresses first semester needs while also protecting banked time for when it might be needed most,” according to the website.
