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School Makeup Days Looming

224 views · Published 18 February 2014 · 2:45 · Indexed 26 September 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2014 · News & Politics

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This week's snow brought immense joy for children across the area, but now school snow day reality sets in.For many kids, that means makeup days or makeup minutes in the classroom are looming.9-year-old Emily Graham spent this afternoon making her second snowman, this one in the front yard where more people could see it.Graham said with excitement, I wish that we had snow every day, but it wasn't as cold.She goes to Nolan Elementary on Signal Mountain.But like every other Hamilton County School child, she's missed seven school days this year due to snow.That's the max.That time off hasn't stopped Emily from learning new skills, she's mastered the art of making snowmen. You just bring your hand and you can like, you bring it like in little circles around it, and it will kind of shape itself.And Emily's mother focuses on the shape of Emily's education, with all these snow days chipping away at classroom time. Beth Graham said, We don't get too much snow so I'm not too concerned about it, but I am concerned with the kids missing so many days just because they have testing coming up in April. And I think they're going to be way behind.Some Signal Mountain roads in the shade remain covered with snow and ice. But that's not the only reason Hamilton County Schools closed today. Seven schools are still without power.This is what will happent for the three largest school systems in our Tennessee viewing area. By state law, Tennessee school districts have seven snow days built into the calendar and six staff development days.   Bradley County has used 9 snow days. That system will take one from staff development and ask the governor for forgiveness for the other day.   Hamilton County has used all 7 snow days. It will use staff development days to make up any future snow days.   And Marion County has used 10 days and will have to make up at least one day. That system wants to do that before testing arrives.Georgia does it differently. They don't bank snow days, instead they keep track of minutes in the classroom.Catoosa County has missed 9 days and expects to add 15 to 20 minutes to each school day.Walker County, which has also missed 9 days, is in a very similar situation and could potentially add 20 minutes to the school day.Whitfield County Schools are waiting on the latest word from the state Department of Education.For that matter, Catoosa, Walker and Whitfield are all waiting for word from the Department of Education next week. The department will decide if the state of emergency days will fall into a category that doesn't have to be made up.Meanwhile, Cherokee County, North Carolina schools are planning to be in session tomorrow, but that's contingent upon tonight's weather. If you didn't see your school system listed in this story, check with your system's website or central office to find out makeup policy.

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