Board adds instructional minutes, schedules makeup day and seeks state waiver after winter closures

The Franklin County School Board voted to add instructional time and seek a state waiver following significant instructional‑time losses this winter.

Superintendent Dr. Sears recommended a combined approach to recover lost hours: add 16 minutes to each instructional day beginning Monday, March 17, designate Saturday, March 22 as a teacher work day (staff may make up hours remotely or at other times as needed to complete grading and end‑of‑quarter tasks), and convert an existing teacher work day to a regular instructional day where feasible. Dr. Sears said these steps together would yield roughly 20 additional hours of instruction across the division and that the elementary schools plan to devote added time to reading instruction.

Although the board’s schedule will still meet the 990‑hour instructional requirement if the makeup plan is implemented, Dr. Sears also asked the board to file for a 24‑hour waiver with the Virginia Department of Education for hours missed that occurred while the division was under a state of emergency. The board approved both the schedule adjustments and the waiver application; members noted applying for a waiver is a precautionary measure and that receiving the waiver would allow the district to avoid extending the school year if additional emergency closures occur later in spring.

Administrators said some schools will shift the 16 minutes to the beginning of the day to minimize family pickup disruptions, while a few schools (notably those with shared transportation schedules) will add minutes at the end of the day; the district plans targeted communications to families about adjusted arrival/pickup times.