HOPE – The Hope Public Schools will extend the school year for students and staff on three campuses this year to account for days lost due to COVID-19 closures and inclement weather.
“As a result of COVID-19 and inclement weather days, three of our campuses will make-up missed instructional and work days during the designated time period at the end of the year,” HPS Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley announced Wednesday. “Starting May 31, make-up days will begin.”
The 2021-2022 academic calendar for the HPS provides for five “inclement weather” days in the period from May 31-June 6 that can be used beyond days campuses may be closed for other reasons. Dr. Crossley said the Arkansas Department of Education allows districts a maximum of 10 instructional days during which all students may be provided Alternative Methods of Instruction.
A combination of COVID-19 pivots, along with winter weather put three HPS campuses over the limit.
“Hope Academy of Public Service, Clinton Primary School and Beryl Henry Elementary School went over the ten days,” Crossley said. “This was no fault of their own. CPS and HAPS used ‘early out’ days to make up missed student time for the equivalent of one school day. Therefore, CPS and HAPS will have one more staff make-up day than student make-up day at the end of the year.”
The end of year make-up days will be as follows:
- CPS: May 31-June 1 student make-up days; June 2nd staff make-up day (Total of 3 staff make-up days and 2 student make-up days).
- HAPS: May 31-June 1 student make-up days; June 2nd staff make-up day (Total of 3 staff make-up days and 2 student make-up days).
- BHE: May 31 student make-up day (Total of 1 student and staff make-up day).
- Yerger: No make-up days needed at this time.
- HHS: No make-up days needed at this time.
“If a campus has a student make-up day, this will obviously mean that it is a staff make-up day,” Crossley said.
Parents should contact the principal’s office of their child’s school for questions, he said.