The Carter County Board of Education approved a series of calendar changes and scheduling steps aimed at recovering lost instructional time after a recent disaster and winter weather.

Board members voted unanimously to set a special called meeting for Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m. to review the 2024–25 school calendar and to consider options for making up missed days. Board member Tony Garland made the motion; the board voted to hold the special called meeting followed by a scheduled retreat.

In related action, the board voted unanimously to move the district's review date under board policy 4.603 (promotion and retention) from Feb. 1 to March 7 for the current year. "We don't want any parents to panic…this just gives parents and teams time to make sure that a student that maybe is struggling is not due just to loss of instruction," Garland said when he moved the change.

Why it matters: District officials said schools lost substantial instructional time this winter because of both a flood and snowy weather. Director of Schools Dr. Clark told the board he estimated "about 20–28 school days" have been missed counting the disaster and illnesses; he said the district has applied for waivers with the state for days missed.

Board members and staff discussed options for recouping time, including using the district's stockpile days, adjusting spring break, and adding days to the end of the school year. Staff said adding days at the end would affect the district's summer-school schedule and state testing dates, which cannot change.

The board agreed to gather input from key stakeholders, including feeder and partner groups, before making a final decision at the special meeting. The superintendent's office will coordinate a special call and solicit feedback ahead of the Jan. 23 session.

Votes at a glance: Motion to hold a special called meeting for calendar review on Jan. 23 (5:30 p.m.) passed unanimously; motion to move promotion/retention review from Feb. 1 to March 7 passed unanimously.