ISLE OF WIGHT
Isle of Wight County Schools have no more margin for error when it comes to snow days. According to Supt. Dr. Jim Thornton, the school division used up all of its allotted snow days for the academic year during the three consecutive days schools were closed last week during winter storm Helena and its aftermath.

However, currently, the division does not have any plans to schedule makeup days due to last week’s closings, but will need to do so if any more inclement weather closings occur.

As for Franklin City Public Schools, according to Gail Wade, director of human resources and administrative services, the school division also does not have plans to make up the three days lost, but, like Isle of Wight, can’t afford any more.

“We have several days of bank instructional time in our calendar that puts us way over the 990 required hours,” Wade said. “Our administrative team met to discuss options and the decision was made to not make up the days missed.

“We do have days and half-days built into our calendar for makeup time missed due to inclement weather, however, none of those days are in the first semester. They are in the second semester. If we miss any additional days during the second semester due to inclement weather, we can choose to use those designated days to make up the lost time.”

Virginia state law requires all school divisions to have 180 days or 990 instructional hours per academic year.