Because of all the snow and ice, Rockdale County students and teachers will not have days off for their previously anticipated week-long Winter Intercession.

School board members followed the recommendation from Superintendent Richard Autry and voted to make next week, Feb. 17-21, instructional days. Those five days would be added to the previously approved March 14 and two weather days would be waived.

The make up day count totaled to eight after this week's snow and ice storm forced the district to close.

The unanimous vote came during an emergency meeting Friday and included discussion of the two other proposed options.

One option involved the recent online survey that asked the public's opinion about adding 30 minutes to the school day, everyday until the end of the year. In that option, students and staff would have still had the entire February break.

The other option was to dip in to the April spring break to make two additional instructional days. The Feb. 17-19 days would still be instructional days, as previously approved. Two instructional days would be waived under that option.

Discussion from board members included consideration of the middle school and special education students who would be in for tiring days if 30 minutes were added. The 30-minute option posed most difficulty for high school students. That option would also mean loss of pay for bus drivers, lunch personnel, and other staff.

Superintendent Autry added that he did not want to fragment the make up days in order to get the most out of the instructional day.