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Silver Falls board tables decision on weather-related makeup days until March 9
Summary
The board postponed a vote on whether to use designated conference days as makeup days after learning Silvercrest and Robert Frost are at risk of falling short of state-required instructional minutes; the motion to table passed and staff will gather additional information, including guidance from the Oregon Department of Education.
The Silver Falls SD 4J board voted to table an action on weather-related makeup days until the March 9 regular meeting after members said they needed more information about instructional minutes and possible options for making them up.
A board member moved to postpone the makeup-day action and another member seconded the motion. The mover said he was not comfortable voting because “there's too many questions … about the details of minutes, what possible solutions were” and asked staff to provide options. The chair then called the voice vote and the board approved tabling the item.
District staff reported that two schools—Silvercrest and Robert Frost—are at or near the threshold for required instructional minutes under Oregon Department of Education (ODE) rules. Staff noted the calendar committee had pre-designated March 13 and March 16 as makeup days; March 16 is typically a district conference day and March 13 a conference prep day. Staff and board members discussed alternatives including adding minutes to the school day, canceling early release time at Silvercrest, or scheduling a makeup day at the end of the year. The board asked staff to consult with ODE and return with clarifying guidance and options by March 9.
Why it matters: ODE sets required instructional minutes and failure to meet them can affect compliance and reporting. Board members said they need concrete options and impacts (transportation, food service, bargaining/contract implications and family notice) before choosing a makeup strategy.
What’s next: The board tabled the item and directed staff to get additional information, including ODE guidance and data from similarly situated districts, before the March 9 meeting.
