By Mercer Sullivan

First semester is finally winding down, just slightly later than normal. After torrential snow slamming the southeast, Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools were faced with the nail biting decision of moving midterms and final exams.

  WS/FCS missed five whole days of school just two weeks before holiday break. After the piedmont triad area received 15 inches of snow, school leaders were forced to shut down due to hazardous conditions. This made for a whole week of snowy fun for students, but a lot of tough decisions for the school board.

   Missing that much instructional time is harmful to students learning and in some classes put students behind several chapters. This would have made midterms even more stressful than they already are.

   As a solution the school board moved midterms back a week so they now start Tuesday, January 22. This was the right decision because it gives students and teachers more time to prepare.

   Even though students missed a large amount of days already, the school year cannot be moved back any further than it already is.

   “State law requires the school calendar to “end no later than the Friday closest to June

11,” said WS/FCS Chief of Staff Alexandra Haskins. “As the calendar stands right now, student’s final day is Tuesday, June 11. If we miss more days due to inclement weather, district leaders will consider alternate options for making up instructional time.”

   Exams, however, have rules as well. There are certain guidelines regarding when exams must be administered ensuring that the semester cannot extend much past its original assigned date.

   “State law requires final exams to be administered in the last 5 days of school (block

schedule) or the last 10 days of school (year-long schedule)” Hoskins said. “However, graduation dates cannot be changed due to the LJVM Coliseum schedule. If we miss more days due to inclement weather, district leaders will consider alternate options for making up instructional time.”

   Many of us are left wondering who makes these decisions, and how they are decided. There are many factors in deciding how to handle scheduling but there are many people assigned to decide it.

   “Several members of Executive Cabinet provide guidance and input to the Superintendent (Dr. Beverly Emory), who makes a recommendation to the Board of Education,” Haskins said. “Part of my job includes ensuring that the school calendar adheres to state law and, reflects the needs of students, staff, and families.”

   While this year the school board along with Dr. Emory and Ms. Haskins have done an excellent job meeting the educational needs of students and making sure teachers get in all their instructional time, there may be permanent changes in the future so that winter weather comes factored into the schedule. This would be very helpful to all students and teachers to ensure ample learning opportunities.

   “This years weather has been exceptional” Hoskins said, “However if we experience another fall/early winter where we miss several school days prior to winter break, district leaders will consider altering the calendar to ensure students receive the instructional opportunities they deserve.”

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