How Will Metro Schools Make-Up Snow Days?

NASHVILLE, TN -- Tennessee's public school systems have the ability to build-in make-up days for inclement weather typically by additional instructional time spread throughout the year. This allows districts to essentially bank snow days that allow for schools to be closed when necessary without having to add days to the end of the year or cutting into spring break and other scheduled breaks.

Many school systems build in as many as 10 days, but Metro Nashville Public Schools, despite starting earlier than most districts, only built in five for the 2016-17 school year.

Friday, January 19 marked the sixth day MNPS closed school for weather this season, meaning all the banked days have been exhausted, and, historically, February has more snowy days than any other month in Middle Tennessee, so it's reasonable to expect more snow days are forthcoming.

MNPS public information officer Michelle Michaud told Patch that the district will announce a make-up plan some time this week, but the calendar approved by the board of education does provide some guidance.

March 16 is currently scheduled as a teacher planning day, but the calendar lists it as a banked inservice day, which means it can be converted for instructional time and prevent an extension of the school year; however, the next step, according to that calendar, is to indeed add days to the end of the year.

Currently, the last day of class is a half day on May 24 with a teacher inservice day to follow, but the calendar advises that students can be brought back May 29, 30 and 31 if necessary. Memorial Day is May 28.

Photo via Patch