Fort Jackson schools not required to make up snow days

By Wallace McBride, Fort Jackson LeaderMarch 14, 2014

snow days
A yard stick is used to measure how much snow and ice accumulated during the storm in January. The region was hit by a pair of winter storms in January and February, closing post schools for a total of four days. It was announced during a school boar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT JACKSON, S.C. (March 13, 2014) -- Fort Jackson schools will not be required to make up days missed because of inclement weather earlier in the year.

The region was hit by a pair of winter storms in January and February, closing post schools for a total of four days. Last week, the South Carolina House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation that would allow school boards to forgive up to five days of classes missed because of the storms. While the resolution awaits the governor's signature, the Department of Defense Education Activity headquarters has already forgiven the days missed at Fort Jackson.

"The good news is that Fort Jackson schools have the required number of instructional hours to meet the accreditation," said Gael Coyle, assistant school district superintendent, during a school board meeting March 6 at C.C. Pinckney Elementary School. "As of about an hour ago, all four days have been waived. I think some of the students will be happy to hear that and, hopefully, some of the teachers."

Also discussed during last week's meeting was codifying "key and essential personnel" for Child, Youth & School Services with regards to school closings.

"There were some questions about operations during the post closing down," Col. Michael Graese, installation garrison commander, told the school board. "Some of the school teachers have brought up the issue that they're not (designated) 'key and essential' personnel."

Generally, only key and essential personnel are asked to report to work when inclement weather disrupts routine operations. This designation extends to both military and Department of the Army civilians.

Graese said the post is working to revise personnel lists for CYSS, in anticipation of future weather issues.

"As long as we know who the personnel are who are key and essential, we can adjust the child development centers for (people) who have kids at the centers," he said. "If the post opens at 12, generally we'll open up the Child Development Centers half an hour earlier."

If there is a conflict between the school and Child Development Center schedules, Graese said the CDC time would be adjusted.