School board lengthens day

By JIM TALBERT\Staff
TAZEWELL – A longer school day will greet students starting March 15.
The school board voted March 8 to add thirty five minutes per day to the school day starting March 15. The board did not set an ending day for the extra time.
They did say they would review the situation at their April meeting. The move was in response to the days lost to snow during this winter.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Christine Kinser said the state required 990 clock hours for a school year and Tazewell County was at 594 heading into the meeting. She said the additional time would allow the county to meet the standard and end school June 10 if no more days were lost to snow or there were no more late schedules or early dismissals.
Without adding the additional time the county would have to extend the school year until June 25. Board members agreed adding 35 minutes was the best method because high schools could add five minutes to each of the seven periods they have.
Board members also agreed that the additional time would make for an awfully long day after the time on a bus was factored in. However, they said no one wanted to go until June 25.
After voting to extend the day, the board also voted to end school June 10 and hold graduation at the three county high schools June 11. Those motions were also conditional on no more time being lost to bad weather.