Albemarle has 11 banked instructional hours left; two more closures would force makeup days, staff say

Assistant Superintendent Daphne Kaiser told the Albemarle County School Board on Feb. 13 that the division began the school year with 66 surplus instructional hours but has used 55 of them because of flooding and recent snow events, leaving 11 banked hours above the Virginia statutory requirement of 990 instructional hours per school year.

Kaiser said the 11 remaining hours are enough to cover one more full‑day closure without adding makeup days. "Right now, we have enough time to absorb one more full day closure without going below the required instructional hours," she said.

If the division experiences two or more additional closures, Kaiser said staff will convert pre‑existing noninstructional days to instructional days. The calendar days identified as potential makeup dates are, in order of preference, Monday, April ? (first choice), March 17 (second choice) and Friday, March 28 (the day before spring break). Kaiser said the April date would be used before the March dates if needed.

Kaiser reviewed other options if closures extend beyond available makeup days, including lengthening the school day, extending the school year and applying to the Virginia Board of Education for a waiver in the event of prolonged extreme closures.

Board members asked how two‑hour delays are counted; Kaiser and staff confirmed such delays are counted hour for hour against the 990‑hour requirement. Trustees also raised concerns about the effect of converting professional development days to instructional days and the need to support teacher training if those days are used for makeup time.

Kaiser said the division will continue to monitor conditions and will notify families and staff if adjustments to the calendar become necessary.