Catoosa County Schools is adding 20 minutes to the school day to make up for inclement weather days.
“We have considered several options, and we believe adding instructional minutes each day will allow us to maximize instruction and recover time lost to inclement weather,” system Superintendent Denia Reese said in a press release. “I know families have vacations planned for spring break and Memorial Day. I believe adding 20 minutes each day is better for families, and for student achievement, than using spring break or adding days at the end of the year.”
The change runs now through the end of the school year.
“We will begin school five minutes earlier and dismiss fifteen minutes later,” the release states. “School dismissal times will vary, so parents should check the website of their child’s school to find out the new dismissal schedule.”
Catoosa County Schools has had nine inclement weather days already this year.
“There are several alternatives for making up inclement weather days,” Reese wrote in a follow-up email. “The state allows a system to ‘forgive’ up to four emergency days, and last week the state board granted flexibility for five additional days. A system may also add days during scheduled breaks or at the end of the year.”
Catoosa County Schools does not build inclement weather days into the calendar, Reese wrote in the email. However, Catoosa County decided to add Presidents Day, which was originally scheduled as a student holiday, in order to help reduce the time lost.