Update 8:22 p.m.: School Board Gives OKJefferson County Public Schools students are to be in class on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, although the dates were initially on the academic calendar to be off days.The change is being undertaken because of eight missed school days because of winter weather.The recommendation was made by the district's calendar committee, which is made up of school district staff and community members, said Michael Raisor, JCPS's chief operating officer. Raisor noted that district will ask principals to be understanding for families that had made plans for Feb. 24 and Feb. 25. He said principals have discretion in such matters, however.Raisor called the weather this year "unprecedented."Board Member Linda Duncan expressed concerned about going back on a prior commitment to the calendar, and parents who already made plans for the days off. She was the lone vote against the change."We said we wanted to give them something more predictable, and we did—we gave them something more predictable, but now we immediately switch," Duncan said. "I know people do make plans around these calendars.""We are not in charge of the weather," said board chairwoman Diane Porter, who said it was important to have the extra week of instruction.Earlier: The Jefferson County Board of Education is expected to vote Monday night on changing the school calendar because of the unusual number of missed days this academic year.So far, JCPS has closed schools because of winter weather eight times. It's the most since a fall wind storm and then winter weather caused students to miss 10 days during the 2008-09 school year. Related: Chart Shows the Times Winter Weather Caused JCPS to Close Schools Since 2008JCPS builds in "make-up days" into its calendar. But even with those, as matters stand JCPS students' last day of class would be June 11.At the beginning of the school year, students were scheduled to be out of class on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 (and other days that week, which were designated "make-up days"). Under a plan on the agenda for Monday evening's school board meeting, JCPS students would now go to class on those days.This would make the last day of the school year June 9. That's a Monday, meaning the subsequent days that week would be used if JCPS has to call off classes again this academic year.Here's the agenda item'sdetailed outline of what would change, if the school board OKs it:
