NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — The Hancock County school system was just one of 27 counties who were denied waiver requests for missed school days from the state Board of Education Wednesday.
Schools across West Virginia will now have no choice but to complete 180 days of school before summer break.
Suzan Smith, superintendent of Hancock County Schools, said their last day of school was originally scheduled for June 5, but now students and faculty will be in school until June 16.
Other West Virginia counties will be staying in class until close to the end of June.
The board originally offered the waivers to help counties who were struggling to reach the 180 days. The instructional day requirement came from the education reform bill Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed into law in 2013.
Smith said they had 13 snow days this school year.
“We can make six days up during the school year, but at the end of the year we’re going to have to make up the seven days to make up the 13 days we missed,” said Smith.
Like several counties across the state, Smith said they had to alter their spring break schedule to meet the 180 day requirement. She said they had to eliminate all but one day of their break. Originally, students and faculty were supposed to be off for a full week.
The Hancock County School Board has approved their school calendar for the following year that will be in coordination with this year. Smith said the only difference is they will have shorter breaks, so students can end school earlier in 2016.
“Hopefully we won’t have as bad of a winter next year. This was a very unusual and very difficult winter with the snow. Hopefully that won’t happen next year, so we can follow the calendar and not have to make up the days at the end of the year,” said Smith.
Some students in West Virginia will be getting out of school as early as May 29 and ending as late as June 25.