By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
Icy road conditions have halted classes for Rowan-Salisbury School System students for the past three days, throwing a wrench into the districtís schedule.
Although students will make up the days by attending class on Jan. 21 and Feb. 21, both scheduled teacher workdays, and Saturday, Jan. 22, high school exams schedules are already off track.
Rita Foil, the districtís public information officer, said exams will continue when schools reopen, with the remainder of the exam schedule being finalized at that time.
ěStudents were instructed to take study materials home last Friday for all courses in the event school would be closed for students at anytime during the exam schedule,î she said. ěThis allowed for students to continue to study and be prepared to take exams.î
High school students are set to begin a new semester Jan. 25, but Foil said requirements must be met before the semester begins.
ěAppropriate adjustments will be made when we know the outcome of the days missed from school,î she said.
Kannapolis City Schools also canceled classes today.
Ellen Boyd, the school systemís director of community relations, said a makeup day for today has not be decided.
SAT still a go
Salisbury High School will continue to host the SAT on Jan. 22, despite the school systemís decision to make up Tuesdayís snow day on that Saturday.
ěIt is still scheduled that day and they are prepared to go head and administer the SAT,î Foil said. ěThey will have room at the school to administer the SAT plus have the make-up day.î
Students who have signed up to take the SAT that day will be excused and counted as present.
Foil told the Post this is the first time students have attended classes on a Saturday since Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom took over in 2006.
Saturday classes will begin at the same time as a typical school day, but students will be released three hours earlier than normal.
Some local residents were unhappy with the districtís decision to hold class on Saturday.
Salisbury resident Rachel Stewart said she would have rather seen the school system add days to the end of the school year rather than take away a Saturday.
ěIn our family, weekends are our time,î she said. ěI donít think the school system has the right to take away from our family time.î
Stewart said her granddaughters, who go to Granite Quarry Elementary, will not attend the Saturday makeup day.
ěMy gripe is not with the school system …. itís just the principle of the whole thing.
ěTheyíll have plenty of Saturdays that theyíll have to give up when they grow up and get jobs.î
Teachers off, too
Foil said teachers who missed Tuesday and today will make up the days Jan. 22 and Feb. 21.
But, those who did decide to head to school will have annual leave days forgiven during spring break.
Foil said those who worked Monday have the option to take an annual leave day, a day without pay or work with their principal to make up the time they missed.
ěDr. Grissom has sent out an e-mail to the teachers last night to explain all the options,î she said.
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.