Inclement Weather School Calendar Change

Post date: Jan 27, 2014 4:54:44 PM

The month of January has brought with it several days of extremely cold weather and unsafe road conditions forcing us to miss a total of 10 days thus far this month.

We want to remind everyone that with the passing of Senate Bill 187, Yancey County Schools started school two weeks later than normal on August 19, 2013. As you know, this automatically pushed our end date two weeks further into June. However, with the loss of so many days during the month of January and as in preparing the remaining winter months, we are, as in the past two years, implementing the automatic Saturday School plan.

Any time school is closed Monday-Thursday due to bad weather, Yancey County Schools will plan on having Saturday School. Whenever school is missed on a Friday due to bad weather, the decision to have school on that following Saturday will be decided as quickly as possible. Safety of the roads on Friday and whether they will be clear enough by Saturday to have school will be the main factor in the decision for Saturday School, however, previously scheduled weekend events will also be considered when making the decision. Please remember state law dictates that students cannot go to school more than five days a week. We will follow traditional early dismissal hours for Saturday School – Elementary at 11:30 a.m., High School at 11:45 a.m. and Middle Schools at 12:00 noon.

Based on previous feedback, we understand that Saturday School is not popular, however losing a winter Saturday is preferable over losing Spring Break days or going to school further into June.

This plan will begin February 3rd. As always, parents will be notified by the school system’s phone notification system, as early as possible, when Saturday School will occur. We appreciate the understanding and support from parents and staff. Our number one priority will always be student safety.