As of the afternoon of February 4, several school districts in the Memphis area have announced closures for February 5 due to inclement weather. This marks a continuation of challenges faced by local educational institutions, many of which are nearing their limit for designated snow days.
Typically, school districts build extra days into their academic year to cushion against interruptions caused by severe weather; however, with some districts nearing their ninth snow day of the season, the remaining days are dwindling. This situation raises concerns about how they will compensate for lost instructional time, particularly as state regulations mandate a minimum of 180 school days with at least 6.5 hours of instruction daily.
In Tennessee, if districts exhaust their stockpile of weather-related days, they can either extend the school year or request a waiver from the Tennessee Department of Education. This waiver permits schools to forgo the strict 180-day instructional requirement in situations deemed serious, such as natural disasters or health outbreaks significantly impacting the community.
As of now, the following school districts have confirmed closures for February 5:
– Arlington Community Schools
– Bartlett City Schools
– Collierville Schools
– Germantown Municipal School District
– Lakeland Schools
– Memphis-Shelby County Schools
– Millington Municipal Schools
Conversely, DeSoto County Schools has yet to announce any closures and is planning to hold classes on President’s Day to offset days lost due to weather disruptions.
As for the Memphis area, the situation remains fluid, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available regarding school operations in response to the ongoing winter weather. The resilience of educational institutions in adapting to these circumstances encourages community support and understanding during these unpredictable times.