Most Ashe County students would cringe at the thought of attending classes on a Satuday but if local predictions of a harsher than normal winter prove true then that may become a reality.

Students were scheduled to attend classes this weekend to make up days missed last week but another round of wintry, which brought more wet slushy snow coated with a thin layer of ice, kept students at home once again.

To date, students have missed 10 school days due to inclement weather and officials with the Ashe County School system are examining ways to make up valuable instructional time, including Saturday school. State regulations; however, prevent school systems from scheduling Saturday school during weeks in which students attend classes for five consecutive days.

Superintendent Dr. Travis Reeves explained that he sent out a survey to staff members last week to gauge their reaction to the possibility of the school system adding instructional days to not only Saturdays but at the end of the calendar year and during spring break as well. He said that survey may lead to "more in-depth evaluations to see where our people stand on the issue."

He reiterated that taking away vacation days during spring break would be a last resort in making up missed school days. Reeves explained that he understands parents and staff members usually plan their vacation time around the spring break portion of the school year.

"Spring break is a great time for students and teachers to rejuvenate and re-charge their batteries for End of Course and End of Grade testing for the last push of the school year," Reeves said. "I've worked in (school) systems where spring break is taken away and that creates a very stressful end of the year."

In the case that classroom days are added to the spring break vacation, Reeves said, students would still have at least two days of spring break salvaged.

Despite the recent surge in more days of wintry weather, Reeves said that he remains hopeful that the school system will still be able to avoid missing an excessive number of days due to snow and ice.

"It is still early in the winter and I'm optimistic we won't have to touch those spring break days but I'm also realistc that we still may have more days of wintry weather so we will look at it from day to day," Reeves said.

Spring break is tentatively scheduled to begin on Good Friday, April 2, and conclude the weekend following April 9. Graduation Day for Ashe County High School students will announced at a later date. For more information on the Ashe County School System and a complete school calendar, visit www.ashe.k12.nc.us.