Making up snow days?

Whether schools will have to make up the days missed because of this week's snow is yet to be determined.

Area schools have canceled classes since Monday, and some have canceled for the remainder of the week, because of the weather, which has caused power outages and dangerous road conditions.

The state school code requires that schools complete 180 days of school by June 30, Department of Education spokeswoman Leah Harris said Wednesday.

If schools cannot meet that requirement, they must file a mandate waiver with the department, she said. A decision about whether to waive the requirement is made on a case-by-case basis, Harris said.

"There is no guarantee that because of a snow emergency that it will be granted," she said.

If a district does not meet the 180-day requirement and does not get the waiver, money will be taken from the district's state subsidy, Harris said.

Many school districts are already having class on Presidents' Day to make up a snow day from earlier this winter.

Ringgold classes were canceled again Thursday and Friday is "50-50," said Superintendent Gary Hamilton.

He said there are many things to consider before deciding whether to change the calendar or apply for a waiver.

He said the district could lose state money and instructional time and could end up paying employees for days they didn't work if students are in school for fewer than 180 days. He doesn't know if Ringgold will apply for the waiver.

"I will have to talk to my board about it," he said.

Ringgold may end up adjusting the calendar because it has days off scheduled for spring break. Graduation is scheduled for early June, so days could also be added at the end of the year, he said.

"More thought has to be put into it," Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the state Department of Education sent an e-mail to districts asking them to wait until the weather improves before deciding what avenue to take.