Surry County Schools announced yesterday officials have amended the school calendar in order to restore the spring break option and to “minimize the disruption in educational continuity for students.”

The Board of Education has amended the Surry County Schools traditional school calendar to do the following:

n Have students attend school on Saturday, Jan. 22 and Monday, Jan. 24.

n Hold the Protected Staff Development Day on Saturday, Jan. 29.

n Utilize Saturdays as a first priority for additional make-up days if weather permits.

n Ensure that all Saturday student attendance days will be dismissed at 1 p.m. with food service provided on campuses.

n Retain the option to move the protected staff development day scheduled for April 1 to Saturday, April 2 or April 9 if needed and allow students to use Friday, April 1 as a make-up day.

n Extend the end of the school year if needed through the week of June 13-17.

This amended calendar allows:

n Restoration of the spring break for families and staff members.

n Increased continuity for students in instruction.

n Intact exam period at the high schools for students and staff.

n Movement of protected staff development days to end of grading periods at both high school (first semester) and elementary school (second quarter and third quarter).

The Early College calendar amendments are made as follows:

n Continue with March 18 as the make-up day for Jan. 14 and not attend on Saturday, Jan. 22. Saturday is not viable at the college as there are no college classes – the day must end between 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and food service is not an option. Also, classrooms are utilized for continuing education classes.

n Utilize March 17 as the next make-up day in lieu of a Saturday option.

n Utilize April 1 as a make-up day with the protected staff development day moved to Saturday, April 2 or April 9 as needed.

n Utilize June 6-10 as make-up days in lieu of Saturdays at Surry Community College.

n Utilize May 30 as last option for make-up day.