On Friday, February 14, 2014, Haywood County Schools will be closed for staff and students.  This is a “Closed/No Day.”

Update on School Closings:

Tomorrow Friday, February 14 is a “No Day/Closed Day” for Haywood County Schools. This day will be made up at the end of the school year. For contract, payroll and supervision purposes, we need to provide staff with the following reminder:

  • Ten-month employees (certified, licensed, classified and hourly) should NOT come to work (unless directed to do so by his or her principal/director). These employees need to work on the “make up” day at the end of the year.
  • Eleven and twelve month employees are already scheduled to work on the make up day at the end of the year. Therefore, these employees may work tomorrow (Friday, February 14) or take accumulated leave.
  • If you are an eleven or twelve month employee who is also a classified or hourly paid employee, you should NOT work six days in one week unless you are specifically asked to do so by your principal or supervisor.
  • If you are an eleven or twelve month employee who is also a certified or licensed employee, it is fine to work six or seven days in one week. Eleven and twelve month administrators get to work more than five days in one week.

General Update on Inclement Weather Make Up Days:

The original calendar contained 6 teacher workdays that were saved for weather make up. One additional mandatory teacher workday was saved for report cards and other required documentation. This workday is after the last student day due to new state testing regulations.

Haywood County Schools’ averages just over 8 missed student days each year due to inclement weather. Thus far, we have missed 11 days this school year. This is due in large part to abnormally low temperatures. The following is a list of adjustments we have made to accommodate for inclement weather. This list does not include late starts and early dismissals.

  • Friday, January 3 – used 1st saved teacher workday (June 6)
  • Monday, January 6 – used 2nd saved teacher workday (June 9)
  • Tuesday, January 7 – used 3rd teacher workday (June 10)
  • Tuesday, January 21 – moved the floating teacher workday (between semesters) from January 15 to 21
  • Wednesday, January 22 – made up on Saturday, January 25
  • Tuesday, January 28 – not required to make up due to timing of the dismissal
  • Wednesday, January 29 – used floating workday on March 5
  • Thursday, January 30 – used floating workday on March 27
  • Friday, January 31 – used 4th saved teacher workday (June 11)
  • Tuesday, February 11 – used 5th saved teacher workday (June 12)
  • Wednesday, February 12 – no/closed day – scheduled make up day is Saturday, February 15 – If it is not possible to make this day up on Saturday, February 15 due to weather/travel conditions, the day will be made up at the end of the year.
  • Thursday, February 13 – used 6th saved teacher workday (June 13)
  • Friday, February 14 – no/closed day – The day will be made up at the end of the year.

The following are make up opportunities that remain available for the 2013-14 school year:

  • Saturday make up days (when appropriate)
  • Extending the calendar June 17-20
  • Memorial Day Holiday May 26
  • Spring Break April 21-25
  • The mandatory floating workday that is after the last student day (originally scheduled on June 5)

Currently, the last student day is June 16 or 17, depending on the ability to make up school this coming Saturday. We will explore and discuss other reasonable options for making up school days with the Board. This will include using the Good Friday Holiday on April 18.

Dr. Anne Garrett, superintendent said, “It is always difficult when we have an above average winter in terms of cold temperatures and precipitation. None of us like all of the adjustments to the school calendar. While we consider many factors in making school schedule decisions, we place the highest priority on student and staff safety.”

Dr. Bill Nolte, associate superintendent said, “The state legislature forces us to start late in August. When we start late and have an average or above average winter, that causes havoc with school schedules. Please ask your state elected officials, and candidates who run this fall, to give complete school calendar control to local school boards.”