February 18, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County School District has used up all its 13 allotted inclement weather “snow days” for the year.
Students district-wide will return to remote learning Thursday and Friday, February 18 & 19 via Google Classroom.
No classes will be held on campus at either school for in-person learning due to inclement weather Thursday and Friday. When weather and road conditions improve, classes will resume on-campus at each school.
Except for 11th graders, all other students at DeKalb County High School will be on remote learning on March 2 to allow juniors to take the ACT exam in person at school.
“ Wednesday (February 17) was our last inclement weather day and going forward If we miss any days due to inclement weather we will be continuing by remote,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.
“We build up 13 days throughout the school year to use for inclement weather but starting this school year back in August we had to shut down due to COVID-19 so we used 9 of those days. The unfortunate part is that we were unable to go remote during that time because we didn’t have our 1:1 devices. We sent that request into the state and got approval. Our only other choice would have been to add those 9 lost days to the end of the school year,” he said.
Director Cripps said remote learning is the preferred option over extending the school year or canceling spring break.
“A good thing about having the 1:1 devices is that you can do that (continue instruction) without having to add days to the end of the school year. The state says we have to put in 180 days of instruction each year so when we miss school over our allotted 13 inclement weather days we have to make up that time but I don’t like trying to change our school calendar once it is set because families make plans. Being able to do the remote learning prevents us from having to add days to the end of the school year,” said Director Cripps.
The remainder of the 2020-21 school calendar shows that DeKalb County students will be off for spring break with no on campus or remote learning the week of March 29 to April 2. Thursday, May 2 will be an administrative day with no school for students. Friday, May 21 will be the last day of school for the year and report cards will be sent home.
Graduation for the Class of 2021 will be Friday, May 14 at 7 p.m. on the high school football field.
The DCHS prom date will be April 9 at the Capital Theatre in Lebanon.