School out

Ice, snow and extremely cold temperatures hit the Pea Ridge area this weekend. Temperatures Monday morning were -5º with a windchill of -20º rising to only 10º Monday, according to the temperatures recorded by Weather Bug from the roof of the Pea Ridge High School gym.

Pea Ridge School officials canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday.

"It was really a no-brainer," Rick Neal, school superintendent said about canceling classes Monday and Tuesday. With temperatures not reaching about 10º Monday, ice and snow on roads did not melt, making travel hazardous.

"We have to look at what's safest for the students," Neal said, adding that he and assistant superintendent Keith Martin get to work about 4 a.m. to assess the situation and that Cameron McNabb, bus superintendent, evaluates the road conditions and whether buses can safely travel the roads as well as stop when necessary to pick up children.

Neal said the facilities fared well; there were no frozen water lines or damage to the school buildings. He said construction on the additional classrooms for the Middle School has halted because of the weather.

School Board members changed the school calendar at the December meeting to make up six days lost due to snow and added two days from the Christmas break. Those six, minus the two made up last Thursday and Friday, plus the two missed Monday and Tuesday of this week, means there are still six days missed.

"We have no more days to add to the school calendar," Neal said.

State law mandates the number of days required per quarter for a minimum of 40 and maximum of 50, according to Keith Martin, assistant superintendent. The second quarter was extended to Jan. 9 because of the days missed in the second quarter the first of December. It will be extended again, Neal said.

There are days added to the end of the school calendar for "snow days" and once nine days are missed, days will be taken off the spring break, currently scheduled for March 24-28.

Days scheduled for make-up days are May 23, 27-30, June 2-4.