Pinellas Co. students won’t have to makeup Hurricane Dorian day

Pinellas County Schools will not require students to make up the day they missed due to Hurricane Dorian. 

Schools throughout the region were closed Tuesday in anticipation of potentially dangerous weather as Dorian threatened Florida’s east coast. 

While the storm did not end up affecting the Tampa Bay area, the decision to close schools was not reversed. 

“It was a very trying few days as we worked with Pinellas County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service to track the storm, prepare our schools for possible shelter openings and make the best and safest decisions regarding the closure of schools,” the Pinellas School District wrote in an announcement to parents Friday. “We do not take these decisions lightly and understand the impact they have on you and your family.”

The district said they reviewed state-mandated instructional time requirements for the school year and determined that with just one day missed, the district has enough instructional hours included in its existing schedule to maintain the existing schedule for the rest of the year. 

“Please recognize that there are twelve weeks left in hurricane season. If we experience any additional closures we will reevaluate the need to make up days,” the district noted. 

Under state law, public schools are required to offer a minimum number of instructional hours for students. Falling below that due to school closures could trigger changes to the school calendar to make up days, typically scheduled during Thanksgiving break. 

Meanwhile, the Hillsborough County School District has not yet determined what, if any, effect its Tuesday closure will mean for the 2019-2020 school calendar. 

The district notes on its website that it is still evaluating instructional hour requirements to determine how much time will have to be made up. If adjustments are required, the district writes it’s likely to come down to a matter of minutes or hours, not an entire day.

Some parents were frustrated with the school closures after it became clear the area would not be negatively affected by Hurricane Dorian. However, schools must plan in advance of possible weather events because some of the buildings are used as evacuation shelters. 

Schools where shelters are opened must take steps in advance to prepare the facilities for shelter activities, meaning the decision to close could come before weather forecasters are certain of a storm’s path.