Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 28, 1991 TAG: 9103290579
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By NEAL THOMPSON/ EDUCATION WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Blame it on a lame Old Man Winter.
Heck, blame it on weatherman Willard Scott.
Whatever the reasons, Roanoke Valley school children were deprived this winter, for the second time in three years, of one of the thrilling rites of childhood - the snow day.
Some ice and scattered snow flurries caused a few morning delays in the schools, but nothing (except at Bent Mountain Elementary School) gave their kids the thrill of listening to the radio to hear that school was closed for the day.
But now that the threat of blustery weather is behind, school officials in Salem, Roanoke and Roanoke County have announced that they plan to give their students two extra days off because no snow cancellations were needed.
Virginia students are required to attend school 180 days each year. But many districts schedule 182-day calendars to allow some flexibility.
To make up those two additional days, students in Salem, Roanoke and Roanoke County all will have the day off Friday and May 24. Tomorrow will give students an extra day to kick off spring break, which lasts all of next week. May 24 will give students an extra day for a long Memorial Day weekend.
"This is all based on the assumption of no snow; if we do not miss any school due to inclement weather," said Roanoke County schools spokesman Marty Robison.
Salem Superintendent Wayne Tripp said this was the second year in three that no snow days were used. Last year, students missed a few days due to Hurricane Hugo and an early snowfall. This year, though, the only inconvenience due to weather was an one-hour delayed opening.
Bent Mountain, in Roanoke County, was the only area school that missed a day this year. Pupils there made up that day by attending school on Saturday, March 16.
by CNB