Will Fayette snow days extend the school year? Here’s what the superintendent says

As of now, the last day of classes for Fayette students for the 2024-2025 school year is May 28.

Will four snow days students had this week following a major winter storm and any future in-person class cancellations extend the school year with make-up days?

“Those discussions are ongoing, and our decisions will be driven by data,” Superintendent Demetrus Liggins told the Herald-Leader Friday.

“Depending on various factors, any actions taken will prioritize what is in the best interest of our students and the overall mission of FCPS. At this point, it’s too early to determine what will happen over five months from now after missing only a few days. Simply put, we are not making any commitments at this time.”

Substantial snowfall is expected to begin after noon on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Kentucky statue requires school districts to build in possible makeup days. We have done that in the 24-25 calendar. If we were to do anything different from what the current plan we would need to formally amend the calendar,” said district spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith.

Several potential make-up days at the end of the school year are noted on the district’s current online calendar.

Virtual learning

Fayette County Public Schools’ officials are also trying to get a handle on whether students are prepared for virtual learning, given that students have not yet returned from winter break.

“Given the weather forecasts indicating a winter storm starting Friday, January 10, and lasting into Saturday, January 11, we would like to gather information from our families about your current access to technology,” a memo to families said.

“Many of our middle and high school students are in the habit of taking their Chromebooks home with them each day, but students at the elementary level don’t begin that practice until we return from winter break.”

Clearing school bus routes

Last year, city officials expressed concern after a winter storm because they didn’t have a map showing Fayette school bus routes.

Friday, however, the mayor’s Communication Director Susan Straub said, “Our Streets and Roads Division is aware of school bus routes and has made them a priority for clearance.”

“The priority has to be our city’s busiest roads.”

“After that there’s a priority system that kicks in that’s part of our snow plan –- it’s passed by the (Urban County Council) each year. ...School bus routes have been bumped up in the priority system, even though they’re not technically part of the snow plan,” she said.

“We’re trying to focus also on streets that have school bus routes that are not part of the snow plan. We continue to work on those as we can,” Urban County Streets and Roads Director Rob Allen said.

Herald-Leader reporter Monica Kast contributed to this article.

This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM.