School System Prepares for Inclement Weather

Post date: Dec 10, 2013 8:06:51 PM

12-06-13

As the seasons change and the possibility of snow becomes greater, it is time to update everyone of the Yancey County Schools plan for inclement weather days and making up any missed instructional days due to unsafe road conditions. With the passing of Senate Bill 187, effective July 1, 2013, public school systems can have a school start date of no earlier than the Monday closest to August 26 and end date no later than the Friday closest to June 11 (unless a weather related calendar waiver has been approved). Yancey County Schools does have an approved weather waiver which allows for an end of school date past June 11th. This law shifted our

school year by two weeks – our later start on August 19th could result in a June 17th or later end date.

All public school systems must have a minimum of 185 days OR 1,025 hours of instruction. The Yancey County Schools calendar, set at 180 days, exceeds the instructional hours required by the state. Extra hours are used for early dismissals and delayed openings.

These changes to the school calendar requirements have cancelled the need for automatic Saturday School. Please keep in mind that every day missed pushes the last day of school back. That is why it is impossible at this time to project the final last day of school.

With this new plan and the typically unpredictable weather here in Yancey County, there is a possibility that the end of school will be in late June. Parents should keep this in mind when planning your family vacation.

Once winter arrives, employees of Yancey County Schools are on the roads by 4:00 a.m. checking across the county for ice or snow dangers. They coordinate with the DOT and the Sheriff’s Department. While student safety will always be our first concern, every effort is made to have school whenever possible. That may mean calling for a 2 or 3 hour delay in starting school until the roads have been cleared. When dealing with changing road conditions, everyone must remember that buses are on the roads and picking up students 2 hours prior to the scheduled start of school and up to 2 hours after school is dismissed returning students home. This sometimes requires making decisions based on what might happen a few hours later in the day for both the safety of the students, our staff and our bus drivers.

The Connect 5 Call System will be used again this year to notify parents by phone of delays, early dismissals and school cancellations. Parents are encouraged to make sure their child’s school has their latest contact information for Connect 5 announcements.

Other means of obtaining school cancellations and delays include:

WKYK

WWNC

WLOS

WYFF

WSPA

WJHL

WHNS

School Announcement Line 682-7322

Online at www.yanceync.net