May 18, 2013
JACKSBORO, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Officials with Campbell County Schools hope that this is the week-- the first full week of school this semester.
As it stands now, they have missed 13 days since January.
Campbell County isn't alone in the problem. Other school districts are faced with the same issue.
In Campbell County, teachers voted to give up a couple of in-service days and the Good Friday holiday.
But it's going to take some creativity too.
As students file back into the classroom at Jacksboro Elementary, their teachers have a big job ahead.
"We are going to have a little more homework, but we've made available several options for the students," 5th grade teacher Jennifer Fields said.
Fields told Volunteer TV her calendar is marked. The TCAPS test is seven weeks away.
"We have more of those now who may be falling behind because we have been out," Fields said.
So, students are invited and encouraged to come to school early and stay late for extra help.
That's not mandatory, but another kind of schedule change could be: On Monday Campbell County schools had planned on adding 30 minutes to the school day.
"Then we heard through the grapevine that there was a chance legislators would grace us some days," Karen Bundren, the Federal Programs Director for Campbell County Schools, told WVLT.
Tennessee requires 180 school days. If given a break, Campbell County would need to be forgiven seven, or, they make up missed time.
While there's no word yet if that's going to happen our representatives may vote to give school superintendents more flexibility with how to make up time.
"The bill will actually be on the senate floor [Monday night]. It passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously," Senator Jamie Woodson told Volunteer TV.
In the meantime, Mrs. Fields says the snow days won't be detrimental for students. They'll be ready for their TCAPS.
"Bring on all the snow that wants to come. We haven't had snow in East Tennessee in quite some time," Fields laughed.
If Campbell County does decide to extend their school day by adding 30 minutes, it will take 12 days to make up for one missed snow day.
Bundren says that decision will be made by Wednesday.
If students had put in the extra time on Monday, it would take from now until April 22nd to make up all the missed time.
The central office is leaving it up to each school how they are going to handle that extra half hour.
