Board approves calendar changes to make up winter-weather days; staff to offer flexible employee make-up options

The Lenoir County Board of Education approved calendar adjustments on Feb. 3 to make up instructional time lost to winter weather this school year.

Assistant/administrative staff explained the district missed about 3½ student days because of recent winter weather and recommended converting an optional teacher work day (Feb. 14) and an early-release student day (March 13) into regular student instructional days. Staff said the district’s traditional calendar contains excess instructional minutes (approximately 66 hours beyond the state minimum of 1,025 hours), which allowed some flexibility but not enough to absorb all missed days without schedule changes.

Board members discussed alternatives including virtual days and using spring break; staff noted the state discourages virtual instructional days outside of an approved plan and said relying on spring break or Good Friday would be undesirable. The approved plan made the two days full instructional days for students. Staff told the board they will provide flexible opportunities for employees to make up time (after-school hours, PTA nights, concession stands, Saturday sessions) because employees were paid for the month and state law limits compensating adults by altering the student calendar.

Motion and vote: The board voted to approve the proposed calendar changes; the chair called for raised hands and the motion passed.

Why it matters: The adjustments restore student instructional minutes required under state law and preserve planned instructional continuity while minimizing impact on scheduled holidays; staff emphasized employee flexibility for making up time.

Next steps: staff to notify schools, teachers and families of the calendar change and issue details of employee make-up options.