Overton Director: Closures Unavoidable

Overton County’s decision to close schools Thursday angered some parents, but Director of Schools Donnie Holman said this week of snow days was ultimately unavoidable.

Holman said student safety has been the main factor behind each closure. Holman said he has been communicating with locals and checking roads himself to make sure the snow days are necessary.

“I’m always very frugal with those days, trying to save as many as we can,” Holman said. “And you never know, you could have to use one way into March, you never know. But I’m doing the best I can, making the best decisions that I can. So I hope we don’t overuse our allotted days but we’ll see. If we do, we’ll do the best we can to make those up in some way or fashion as we have in years past.”

Holman said the teachers have pacing guides and will adjust lessons as necessary to help students pick up right where they left off in December. Holman said it is too early to know for sure but it highly probable that there will be more snow days next week.

“I know there’s been times when it’s been forecasted for us to have a lot of bad weather and it’s not as bad as we think,” Holman said. “And then quite the opposite occasionally, nothing much will be forecasted and it turns out really significant. So I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Holman said the district now has seven snow days left to use from the thirteen built into its calendar. Holman said the Crawford and Allons areas have had the majority of the icy roads in the district.

“Whether I have school or whether I cancel school, either one, I know some people will agree and some will disagree,” Holman said. “But I’m just doing the very best that I can.”

Holman said it is a challenge for students and staff to be away from school but the extra week off does not bring any unique issues from those that come with a break.