Floyd BOE set to put weather makeup days in place

Deciding which days that could, if needed, be used to make up time missed to schools closing for inclement weather, is part of the today’s agenda.

The Floyd County Board of Education will look to approve two days in February, as well as two days in the same month of 2019, for possible inclement weather makeup days during its regular meeting this evening.

The board will caucus at 5 p.m. in Superintendent John Jackson’s office at 600 Riverside Parkway. Board members will then start the meeting at 6 p.m. in the boardroom at the central office.

If the board approves the revisions to the calendar, Feb. 16 and Feb. 19, which make up the system’s winter break, would potentially be used to make up for missed days if needed. Tropical Storm Irma closed schools for two days in early September. Those days won’t have to be made up, but staff on contract will need to offset these two days by working extra time or by making use of their saved time-off, Jackson said.

But, if this upcoming winter brings about icy conditions and schools close for a handful of days, then the system would have built-in days to make up for the loss of instruction time, Jackson said. In 2019, Feb. 15 and Feb. 18 would be the built-in makeup days.

The system is feverishly trying to meet the deadline for an $80,000 state literacy grant from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, Jackson explained. Since the deadline will pass before the board meets again in November, the system is looking to get the nod of approval from board members to move forward.

The grant would be used to fund literacy professional learning, as well as coaching, to teachers in the system’s own pre-K programs as well as those in five private programs in the community. Jackson said what the grant is focused on falls in line with the system’s push for improving literacy levels.

Attendees of the meeting better bring their popcorn for the screening of a video of drone footage showing all the projects that have been completed, or are being planned for completion, with funding from the education local option sales tax, Jackson said.

“It’s quite impressive,” said Jackson, who was able to preview the video Wednesday morning.