King George schools to make Presidents' Day an in‑person day, convert April 21 to teacher work/asynchronous day to recover missed instruction

The King George County School Board voted to recover lost instructional time after winter storms by making Presidents' Day (Feb. 16) an in‑person school day and by changing April 21 — the date of a special election — from a regular school day to a teacher work day and asynchronous student day.

Superintendent (identified in the transcript) told the board the division had lost nine instructional days this school year (two earlier in December and seven during the most recent storm), leaving the district one day short of the state’s expected minimum of instructional seat time. He said state guidance requires districts to use available make‑up days on the calendar before applying for a waiver from the Virginia Department of Education.

"The guidance we received from the state is pretty cut and dry," the superintendent said, describing the VDOE criteria and listing calendar options that could be used to make up time, including Presidents' Day (Feb. 16), a teacher workday on March 13, and April 6 (the Monday after Easter). He recommended using Feb. 16 to return the division to compliance and converting April 21 to an asynchronous/teacher work day because the county registrar officially scheduled a special election for that date.

A motion to make Feb. 16 an in‑person school day and to change April 21 to a teacher work/asynchronous day was moved and seconded and carried with members voting "aye." Board members noted the possibility of additional snow between now and April but said using available make‑up dates now preserves the district’s ability to request a waiver if needed.

The board did not immediately change other potential make‑up days (March 13, April 6) but left them available if additional losses occur.

Next steps: the district will update calendars and notify families of the Feb. 16 school day and the April 21 schedule change.