Will Memphis students have to make up snow days? What local school districts said

Many Memphis-area adults weren’t thrilled by last week’s thick blanket of snow and ice. Thanks to the inclement weather, they’ve had to deal with hazardous road conditions and a boil water advisory, and at a time when remote work is prevalent, a lot of them still didn’t get reprieves from their jobs.

But for most children, the snow has been something to celebrate, a gift from Mother Nature that has provided snowball fights, sledding, and, perhaps most importantly, an unexpected break from school. After having last Monday off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the vast majority of students in the local school districts ended up having the rest of the week off due to the snow and ice; and they were again off Monday.

The days off, however, raise questions: How will schools compensate for the time away? Have the districts already prepared for this, or will make-up days have to be added to the school year?

Here’s what local school districts have said.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Last week, when MSCS announced school cancellations, the district noted that it already had snow days built into the calendar. So, as of now, parents and students shouldn’t have to plan for additional days tacked onto the school year to make up for lost time.

“Because MSCS anticipates some inclement weather days each school year, the district builds stockpile days into the schedule, and we remain comfortably under that threshold,” a press release said.

Germantown Municipal School District

Germantown, like MSCS, incorporates additional days into its calendar each school year for things like snow. On its website, the district said it has seven extra days in the calendar meant for “inclement weather or other school closures.” As of Monday, the district still had two extra days remaining.

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Collierville Schools

Collierville also prepares for snow days by adding them into the calendar before winter weather ever comes. When the district announced on its website that it would again be closed Monday, it said, “Monday marks the fifth inclement weather day used by Collierville Schools this year. The district stockpiles eight days; therefore, there are currently three days remaining.”

Lakeland School System

Superintendent Ted Horrell told The Commercial Appeal that Lakeland has eight days for winter weather and unexpected closures built into its calendar. It had to use one in August for an electrical outage and has now used five days for snow, including Monday, which means it has two days left. Horrell noted that the state also allows districts to use two days of remote instruction for weather if needed.

“We still have some options before we have to think about make-up days,” Horrell said.

Arlington Community Schools

Tyler Hill, Arlington Community Schools’ director of communications and planning, told The CA that the district has eight “stockpile” days built into the calendar. Two of the district’s schools ― Arlington Elementary and Arlington Middle ― had to use one of these days last semester because of a power outage, and all four of its schools have now used five days for winter weather.

So, two of its schools have two stockpile days left, while its other two ― Donelson Elementary and Arlington High ― have three remaining. Like Horrell, Hill noted that the district could hold up to two remote school days, if necessary. He also said that Arlington could apply for a waiver from the state, which would add additional to the school day ― rather than extend the school year.

Bartlett City Schools

Jason Sykes, the district’s communications, transportation, volunteer, and community outreach supervisor, told The CA that Bartlett has eight snow days built into the snow year.

“Therefore, the days we missed due to the recent closed days will not have to be made up,” he said.

Additional information

Families with students at private institutions and charter schools should check with their specific schools for guidance.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis school closures: Will students have to make up snow days?