Davidson County Schools Superintendent explains decision making for school closings
Note: Davidson County Schools will operate on a 3-hour delay tomorrow, Wednesday, January 15. Staff members should report to school at regular time or as soon as you feel safe to do so. High school students will not take any exams tomorrow; it will be a review day for high school exams, and 1st period exams will be on Thursday.
Dear DCS Family,
I would like to start by saying that DCS and I are incredibly appreciative of parents, staff, students, and community support during the latest bouts of winter weather.
As winter weather continues to pose challenges for our community, I want to provide insight into the considerations behind Davidson County Schools' decisions to close, delay, or move to remote instruction during inclement weather. These decisions are not made lightly, as they impact families, staff, and students, as well as our ability to meet state instructional requirements.
North Carolina requires school districts to provide a minimum of 1,025 instructional hours each academic year. Davidson County Schools (DCS) began this year with 1,150.5 instructional hours for traditional schools, providing a cushion for unforeseen events. To date, we have used 27.5 hours due to weather-related closures and delays, leaving us with 1,123 hours remaining for traditional schools. Stoner Thomas School started with 1,076.16 hours and has used 26.24 leaving a balance of 1,049.92 hours.The state allows us five remote instruction days. DCS has already utilized two remote days for traditional schools and three for the Early College and Valley Academy.
When considering remote instruction days, we must also acknowledge the impact on our classified staff, many of whom are hourly employees. Jobs such as custodians, teacher assistants, bus drivers, and school nutrition staff cannot be performed from home. This limitation requires careful planning to ensure equity and fairness for all staff while maintaining essential school functions. These factors further complicate decisions about using remote days.
Unfortunately, our high schools face additional scheduling challenges as we near the end of the semester. State guidelines mandate that exams be held during the final five instructional days of the semester. Consequently, adjustments to the length of the second quarter have been necessary to align with these requirements, further illustrating the complexity of weather-related decisions.
The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. Many roads in Davidson County are shaded, not part of primary snow plow routes, and receive limited sunlight to melt ice and snow. This makes travel hazardous, particularly for inexperienced student drivers and buses. Additionally, staff safety is paramount, and we trust our staff to make prudent decisions about commuting during adverse weather conditions.
To make informed decisions, we consider a variety of factors. Our team rides bus routes to assess road conditions firsthand, consults with the Department of Transportation, reviews data from the National Weather Service, and communicates with the 911 call center for real-time updates. We also ensure that school buildings are prepared to receive students and staff following major weather events.
These decisions aim to balance the safety of our community with our responsibility to provide quality education. While no solution is perfect, we remain committed to making decisions that prioritize the well-being of our students and staff while adhering to state requirements.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Dr. Gregg Slate
Superintendent, Davidson County Schools
