Board hears calendar, remote-instruction and makeup-day options after snow closures

Superintendent Dr. Perkins updated the board on the district calendar and instructional-hour recovery during the Feb. 9 meeting.

Perkins said Rockingham County Schools operates 168 student days per year and that the district is limited to five remote-instruction days annually. The district used four remote-instruction days during the recent inclement-weather event and has scheduled one additional remote day for March 3 (a primary-election day and the ACT exam for juniors). Perkins said the district will convert two teacher workdays — Feb. 26 and March 24 — into student days to recoup instructional time; additional options include adding minutes to the school day.

Board members asked whether converting workdays to student days requires a board vote. Staff clarified that the superintendent has authority to adjust the calendar in real time for inclement weather but that a formal board vote can be used to align the official calendar with changes for clarity for parents. Perkins said staff intend to revise the online calendar after the next delay to reflect adjustments and to present formal calendar updates at future meetings if the board prefers.