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Norman Public Schools adds one minute to daily schedules, designates April 18 as optional snow makeup day
Summary
The Norman Public Schools board approved adding one minute to daily bell schedules for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year to meet the state-required 1,080 instructional hours and designated April 18, 2025 as an additional snow makeup option if needed.
The Norman Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 24 approved a change to the 2024–25 academic calendar to ensure the district meets the required 1,080 hours of instruction.
Holly Nevills, district staff member, asked the board to approve two measures: adding one minute to daily bell schedules at all schools for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year, and designating April 18, 2025 as an additional snow makeup day if needed. Nevills said the district had used three remote-learning days earlier in the year and that adding a minute each school day would convert the district's remaining 0.92 of a day into a full instructional day without altering designated holidays or adding a make-up day at the end of the year.
"By adding the minute each day from now until the end of the school year, it will bring that 0.92 up to a full day," Nevills said. She also explained the district's preference to use remote learning when possible and to reserve calendar day adjustments for emergencies; Nevills noted March 13 (a parent-teacher conference day) and April 18 (a professional development day) as options the district could use if remote learning were not feasible.
Board members asked clarifying questions about which dates remained available as make-up options and whether adding minutes would affect staff or student schedules. Nevills and other district speakers said staff would be notified in advance and that adding minutes was a minimal instructional change intended to avoid extending the school year. A board member thanked district staff for how they implemented recent remote-learning days and for creating resources for elementary students.
A motion to adjust all schools' daily bell schedules to add an additional minute for the remainder of the 2024–25 year and to designate April 18, 2025 as an option for a snow makeup day passed unanimously. Votes recorded were: Tina Floyd — yes; Alex Regiers — yes; Annette Price — yes; Dawn Brockman — yes.
Nevills said the district preferred remote learning in future weather disruptions when possible, but that the additional minute and the designated makeup date were available if needed. The board adjourned following the calendar vote.
