News

Helene forces school calendar changes

By Lightning reports, Published: October 18, 2024

Students in Henderson County will not be required to make up some school days missed as a result of Tropical Storm Helene, while other missed days will be added to the end of the school year.

The school system’s updated calendar shows seven school days from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4 marked as “Helene.” Students are not required to make up those missed days, according to information from the school system. Missed school days from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10 will be made up by extending the school year from May 23 to May 30.
Schools Superintendent Mark Garrett told Henderson County commissioners at their meeting on Wednesday that the School Board voted to update the calendar after the North Carolina Legislature gave certain counties impacted by the storm more flexibility.
“The legislature has passed some things to help us out as far as the ability to forgive a few days, student days, not to be held to the same standard as communities not impacted by Helene,” Garrett told the board. “We are extending the school year just a little to make sure we have ample time to get those instructional hours in. We feel like we have a good balance.”
The state gave some school systems that were impacted by the storm, including Henderson County, the authority to forgive up to 20 days.
For more information on school calendars, visit www.hendersoncountypublicschoolsnc.org .