OPINION
Emergency
Fort Mill District calendar should include built-in make up days with no penalty by Caitlin O’Reilly
I
“Announcement: Fort Mill Schools will be closed due to inclement weather.”
calendars set aside for weather make up t happens every year -- even before that are not teacher work days . If inschools closed due to the pandemic, clement weather days are not used, then in the 2019 - 2020 school year, Fort students have no Mill Schools school on those had missed two Approving calendars days, so if they days of school, had with no built-in days for miss school stutwo delays, and one dents know exactly early dismissal due to emergencies is a problem, when they have to inclement weather. make up a missed Because the calespecially now... day. There are no endar includes no surprises due to inclement weather weather conditions days built in, this or other emergencies. has caused the district to have two make This system is much better than the up days that should have been three-day Fort Mill School’s calendar and policies weekends for students. This situation is an inconvenience to students who had plans for because students currently have to lose their three-day weekends. Teachers also the days they were supposed to have off. should not have to lose the teacher work Approving calendars with no built-in days for emergencies is a problem, especial- days that they need. Especially since Fort Mill Schools ly now with all the school we are missing usually misses three to five days of school due to coronavirus. Fortunately, summer every year due to snow, tornadoes, water makeup days are not currently in discusmain breaks, and so on, it is important to sion, but when school is in session in the building, a calendar that includes inclement have a calendar that prepares for emergencies. According to Assistant Principal weather days without requiring make up Anthony Scorsone, the district is considerdays is a better option. ing such a policy. The Talon staff strongly Other school districts, such as Rock supports such a change. Hill School District, include days in their
Spring 2020
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