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School board approves makeup plan for missed instructional time; adopts calendar changes for 2025‑26 draft
Summary
After a staff and family survey, the board voted to convert three workdays into instructional days to make up winter weather losses and approved draft 2025‑26 calendar adjustments that include possible inclement‑weather makeup days.
The Harrisonburg City School Board voted on March 4 to adopt the administration’s plan to make up missed instructional time caused by winter storms and flooding and to publish proposed calendar changes for 2025‑26.
What the board approved: the board approved converting March 10 into a full instructional day for all students (pre‑K through grade 12) and converting March 28 and April 21 into instructional days for pre‑K through grade 5 only. The administration said those conversions meet most of the lost time at the elementary level; staff will request a state waiver for a remaining 2.67 hours of elementary instructional time.
Why it matters: the district missed multiple full days and two‑hour delays earlier in the year; making up time preserves compliance with state instructional‑time requirements and reduces the need for longer school days or an extended school year. The administration said a state waiver may be requested for the small remaining shortfall after the conversions. If the waiver is denied, the district’s fallback would be to add minutes or convert additional days.
How the decision was reached
The administration reported broad participation in a survey on makeup preferences: 693 staff members and 1,255 families responded. The top preference from both groups was converting workdays into instructional days; adding minutes to existing days was the second preference.
Dr. Blosser presented the survey results and the recommended plan. Board members discussed concerns about teachers’ need for unencumbered workdays to complete grading and report cards; the administration committed to coordinating with principals to reduce meeting loads during the affected period.
Board action and follow‑up
A motion to accept the proposed makeup plan carried unanimously. The administration will seek a state waiver for the remaining elementary shortfall (2.67 hours) and told the board it will provide additional public information if the waiver is denied and additional makeup measures are required.
2025‑26 calendar update
Using the survey results, the board approved a revised draft 2025‑26 calendar that lists potential inclement‑weather makeup days (March 20, April 6 and May 1) to be used only if necessary. The board discussed avoiding certain days that are important for teachers’ unencumbered work time. The 2025‑26 draft will be available for public review, and the board will finalize the calendar in the usual budget/calendar timeline.
Ending: The board called the calendar and makeup decisions a measured response guided by staff and family input; further details and any waiver outcome will be published ahead of final budget and calendar adoption.
