‘ Tis the Season – For Winter Weather
Winter weather can wreak havoc on the school year calendar with delays , closings , and make-up days .
Cabarrus County Schools wants to help parents , staff and the community prepare for any changes to the school schedule that might occur as a result of inclement weather or other emergency situations .
Remember , you can always call the CCS Information Line at 704-784-6197 to find out current information about any district-wide school closings or delays .
Decisions , decisions
The superintendent uses information obtained from weather forecasts and district personnel about road conditions when determining whether school should be cancelled , delayed , or dismissed early due to severe weather .
Decisions about delaying or canceling school or dismissing school early as a result of inclement weather or even the threat of inclement weather are never easy . However , we always err on the side of caution to keep our students and employees safe . Also remember , we have many new and inexperienced student drivers who drive themselves to school each day . Their safety also is a factor .
When school must be dismissed early or is closed , parents should make arrangements for childcare , as the KIDS : PLUS after-school and before-school programs will not operate that day .
The view from here
Cabarrus County Schools encompasses a large geographic area , and as such , road conditions in one part of the county can differ from those on another side of the county . Just because the view outside your door is clear doesn ’ t mean it ’ s that same way a few miles away . We have to factor in all road conditions and evaluate whether it is safe to put buses and our employees on the road . We also have to consider the safety of our new and inexperienced student drivers .
Word on the street
Information about school cancellations , delays and early dismissals will be posted to the district website at www . cabarrus . k12 . nc . us . Additionally , the CCS Information Office will contact families and staff via the Blackboard Connect notification system via phone and email with an appropriate message . Information also will be shared on :
• CCS social media sites ( Facebook , Twitter and Instagram )
• Local media outlets ( newspaper , radio and television )
Please keep in mind that no announcement means school is operating on a normal schedule .
Making-up is hard to do
Snow days may be fun , but then … reality sets in . Will we have to make up the day ? When will the make-up day be ? There are numerous factors to consider regarding make-up days . First and foremost is whether students have logged enough hours in school to comply with the N . C . school calendar law , which requires public school students to attend school for 1,025 hours . The law also dictates when school can begin and when it can end . The law does not ‘ build in ’ extra days to the calendar that can be used as a ‘ buffer ’ in anticipation of inclement weather .
If our school system has surpassed or is on track to surpass the state requirements , the missed day may be forgiven . Other factors when determining make-up days include :
• Weather forecasts for subsequent days ( is more inclement weather possible ?)
• Protecting certain designated days on the school calendar , e . g . Spring Break
• Likelihood of additional inclement weather – typically , January and February are when most of our inclement weather occurs
The Cabarrus County Board of Education approves the academic calendar , which includes designated make-up days ( many of which are holidays ), as well as the option to use Saturdays as makeup days instead of a designated day . Using Saturdays sometimes provides a better chance of preserving an extended break such as Spring Break .
We understand that Saturday make-up days may conflict with family plans . Rest assured our principals and teachers will work with students affected to make-up missed assignments .
Parent Teacher Magazine • Jan / Feb 2017 • 5