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Carter County board approves March makeup days; staff says Feb. 17 virtual day will be regular school day
Summary
The Carter County School Board voted to hold classes on March 11 and 12 and to schedule spring break for March 13–14. District staff said Feb. 17, previously a virtual make-up day, will be treated as a regular day; board members raised concerns about impacts on CTE certification hours.
At a Carter County School Board meeting (date not specified), the board voted to hold classes on Wednesday and Thursday, March 11 and 12, and to schedule spring break for Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, a motion the board approved by voice vote.
The change follows staff discussion of earlier make-up planning and a decision by district staff to convert Feb. 17 — previously designated as a virtual make-up day — into a regular school day. District staff said the change is intended to preserve in-person instructional time while balancing family schedules: "Extending the school year is not an option," a district staff member said during the discussion.
Why it matters: The calendar shift affects students who rely on Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for certification hours and may require changes to instructor schedules. A board member asked, "How will this impact the CTE hours for certification?" A district staff member responded, "It could definitely impact those hours," and said the district expects to rely on existing summer offerings and possible after-hours or Saturday options if needed. Staff also said the district has applied for a grant that, if awarded, would allow more after-hours and weekend access for CTE students.
Board discussion included concerns about family time and the strain of recent disruptions on students and staff. A district staff member said instructional time is critical but added that family time also matters: "...instruction time is, to me, is the second most important time we can have with kids. But good family time is the person." Board members noted some teachers have not planned extended instruction into the spring and that summer and other make-up opportunities are already available for seniors.
The motion was made by Keith Bowers and seconded on the record; the board then conducted a roll call. The recorded votes were: Keith Bowers — yes; Renee Lewis — yes; Tony Garland — yes; Dylan Hill — pass; Gary Oakes — yes; Jeremiah Tolley — yes; Danny Ward — yes; and one additional member verbally recorded a yes vote. The meeting chair announced, "The motion has carried."
District staff framed remaining work as implementation details: confirming how CTE students will meet hour requirements, whether instructors will need to provide additional sessions, and whether the pending grant will be awarded. Staff said summer courses and other existing options remain available for students who need to catch up on certification hours.
The board also recessed into routine closing business, including a motion to adjourn that was seconded and approved.
