With FCPS experiencing another snowstorm closure Feb. 11-14, some students and staff asked, “Are we going to have to make up these snow days?”

In an email to FCPS staff on Feb. 14, FCPS Director of Elementary Instruction and Federal Programs Gemma Soares noted, “As of today, February 14, we are still 26.25 hours above the 990 requirement (or approximately 4.2 school days).” She added that if the district falls below the 990 threshold and needs to add instructional time, there are three options:

• Converting the March 14 staff day into a student day
• Converting May 22 and/or May 23 staff days into student days
• Implementation of remote learning days

In a follow-up email to staff on Feb. 14, Soares wrote, “Given that this upcoming Tuesday [Feb. 18] is potentially the only day staff and students would be back in the buildings to prepare for remote learning prior to additional inclement weather closings, a remote learning plan would NOT be implemented next week.” She added, “For any inclement weather closings next week, we would continue to use the remaining time we have above the 990 (26.25 hours/4.2 days).”

At the time of publication, local weather forecasts called for the possibility of 6-8 inches of snow falling in the county on Feb. 20, with estimated morning temperatures on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 of 12 degrees and 9 degrees, respectively.