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CENTRE — Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Brian Johnson last week announced the Board of Education's decision on making up the week of classes missed because of a substantial snowfall earlier this month.

Johnson said students will attend classes on Presidents Day, Feb. 21, along with the first Saturdays in February, March and April. An extra day was also added to the end of the school year (May 27).

Several people reacted negatively when the proposal was announced on The Post's Facebook page on Jan. 18.

“If they dates that they are discussing stand, they stink,” read one comment.

Johnson said he and the Board members discussed several possibilities before deciding how to fulfill the 180 days of instruction required by state law.

“There was really no good way to do it,” Johnson said. “When you have to make up five days there are no good options.”

Johnson said other options that were considered included adding an extra week to the end of the school year, or cancelling spring break.

“No one wanted to do either of those, with good reason,” he said.

Johnson said school officials will be very lenient with students who have other obligations that may prohibit them from attending the make-up days, particularly the three Saturdays, which fall on Feb. 5, March 5, and April 2.

“We know some students take part in organized sports and other activities, and some high school students work on Saturdays,” Johnson said. “As long as the student brings a note from his parents explaining his or her absence, it will be excused.”

On Jan. 9, a winter storm moving across the Southeast dumped around five inches of snow on northeast Alabama. Freezing temperatures prevented the snow from thawing completely for several days, which resulted in icy roadways.
Highway Engineer Corey Chambers did not officially reopen county roads until Wednesday, Jan. 12, and lingering ice on roadways in upper elevations of the county prevented school buses from running for the remainder of the week.