Accomack Co. School officials add time to school day to offset snow days

School officials in Accomack County, have announced their plans to combat time missed due to snow.

According to a letter sent out Thursday to area parents, the Accomack County School Board has voted to add 47 minutes to each instructional day starting March 23rd, and running through June 12th.  The plan adds 15 minutes to the start time and 32 minutes to the end of the day. School officials say the added time will be spent preparing students for SOL testing, which starts in May.

The plan stems from Accomack County Public Schools missing 10 instructional days this school year due to winter weather.

According to officials, Accomack County Public Schools must provide students with either 990 hours or 180 days of instructional time.

This plan was one of four proposals that were discussed by the Accomack County School Board. The other ones included only adding 25 minutes to the school day, but having school end on June 17th, only adding 12 minutes onto the school day and having school end on June 19th, and the final proposal suggested adding two extra days to the original school calendar, making the last say of school June 23rd.