ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 6, 1996 TAG: 9602060054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
THE WINTER WEATHER may force Western Virginia schools to cancel some school days, but still stay in session well into June. That's a prospect administrators are weighing to ensure their students are in school long enough.
Bad weather in recent weeks will probably mean a school year shorter than the state-mandated 180 days for some Western Virginia students - even though they might not get out until later than scheduled in June.
Several localities will make use of a state law that allows them to use "banked time" to make up part of the days missed because of snow and ice.
"Banked time" describes instructional time beyond the state minimum requirement of 51/2 hours a day, or 990 hours a year.
School superintendents are reluctant to use banked days because they don't like to lose instructional time. And they worry that the public might get the impression that they don't value academics if schools are not in session 180 days.
But some administrators said Monday they are running out of options as the missed days mount. They have already shortened the spring break and extended the school year to make up missed days.
Public schools in the Roanoke and New River valleys will be closed again today because of snow-packed roads and subfreezing temperatures.
It will be the 13th day missed day this winter for Floyd County, while most localities have missed nine or 10 days.
Superintendents in some rural counties said their schools might not open until Thursday unless the temperature rises sharply today.
"Unless something miraculous happens, I don't see how we can back go on Wednesday," said John Kent, Bedford County superintendent.
Community School, a private school in Roanoke County, was open Monday, but it doesn't have to worry about buses traveling on icy roads.
Parents provide transportation for their children to the school. About a third of Community's students were absent Monday.
"We don't have to be concerned about the safety of children on buses," said Marcy Johnson, the school's administrator. "We tell our parents to use their judgment in deciding whether it's safe to bring their children."
Roanoke Catholic and North Cross, two other private schools in the Roanoke Valley, were closed Monday. Like public schools, they use buses to transport some of their students.Almost all public schools can use some banked time because their school days are longer than the state mandate of 51/2 instructional hours (lunch periods are not included.) They can use the additional time to obtain a waiver from the 180-day requirement so long as they don't drop below 990 hours of instructional time..
State law requires schools to make up the first five missed days. but the state can waive making up the next five. If school systems get a waiver and miss more than 10 days, they must make up days 11 through 15. The state can waive all days beyond that - provided the localities have meet the 990-hour requirement.
Charles Finley, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, said the state does not encourage or discourage localities from seeking waivers to the 180-day requirement.
"We feel like that's a local decision. Some superintendents prefer to make up all days, but others say they are getting lobbied not to make them all up," he said.
Roanoke Superintendent Wayne Harris opposes the idea of using banked time, but he said he might be forced to accept it this year because the city has missed 10 days. The school division has already eliminated three days from spring break.
If there is more bad weather, Roanoke might have to choose between a later date for students to get out in June and banked time.
"The thing that concerns me is the loss of instructional time," Harris said. "I would have to think long and hard about it. I'll have to talk to staff, parents and others before we decide."
Roanoke schools are now scheduled to get out June 12, but the last day for some other localities, such as Botetourt County, will be June 6 unless more bad weather causes the school year to be extended. Roanoke County students will get out June 11, and Bedford County on June 8.
Pulaski County is also trying to make up all days and comply with the 180-day requirement, but that could be tough if it misses many more days, said Doris Dawson, personnel director.
In Floyd County, Superintendent Terry Arbogast said he also believes it's important for children to be in school 180 days a year.
Salem plans to use one or two days of banked time, depending on the number of days that it misses this winter.
Other localities planning to use banked time include Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Montgomery counties.
Roanoke County plans to use banked time to make up at least three missed days, but officials have not decided whether to use more, said Assistant Superintendent James Gallion.
As a last resort, the school system is even considering Saturday classes as a way to make up for lost time.
"These are unusual times and may require unusual solutions," Gallion said. "We have to look at everything."
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