Snow days a complex process for schools

Jackson R2 schools were off four of five days last week because of poor weather or hazardous road conditions.

Superintendent Ron Anderson said the decision to cancel school on Friday was made about 5:30 a.m. About 8:30 or 9 p.m. Thursday, Anderson said slick spots started forming in town. However, he said most of the problems were in the rural areas of the district.

As required by state law, Anderson said the district builds six makeup days into the school calendar.

"Now we're into the seventh day, counting today," he said Friday.

Districts are required to make up the first seven days; the eighth day is forgiven; the ninth is made up; the 10th is forgiven; the 11th is made up; 12th is forgiven; 13th is made up; and 14th is forgiven, Anderson said.

Days after that are forgiven, he added.

Under that scenario, the district has to make up seven days. Whether to hold classes is evaluated based on the weather forecast and current conditions. On Friday, it was a combination of things. He said two people drove the bus routes and communicated with him.

The morning before, Anderson said he met with people who had driven the routes and decided to hold school.

In Perry County on Friday, "we have nine snow days," assistant superintendent Russell Leek said in a news release. "That means school will be in session until May 28 at this point. The good news is that, no matter how many snow days we end up using this winter, we know that our school year will end no later than May 30."

The district's policy for making up days missed because of bad weather calls for six days to be made up, the release said. If the

district hadn't used any snow days, students and staff would have been off May 5 and 9, the release said, because the board of education builds in two snow days "just in case," the release said.

In Cape Girardeau, communications director Dana Saverino said the district has had three snow days this year.

Spring break was set for April 17, 18 and 21, but April 17 and 21 will be makeup days. May 18 is graduation, and the last day of school at this point is May 21, which is the third makeup day.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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