Bentonville School District Considers Saturday Dates

BENTONVILLE — School District officials are considering two Saturdays to make up days lost because of winter weather this year.

The administration’s proposal is to hold school March 15 and May 3. Both Saturdays have been evaluated by administrators for potential conflicts, according to a district document.

“It should be noted, however, that even these dates have some conflicts within the district, including forensic tournaments, band and choir competitions, and professional development activities taking place within the facilities,” the document states.

The proposal is on the agenda for the School Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the district’s administration building.

The district has had 11 snow days this school year. One day was made up on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Another day will be made up Feb. 17 — Washington's Birthday — another regularly scheduled holiday.

That leaves the district with nine more days to make up. The district’s previous plan was to make up remaining days by tacking them on to the end of the school year. Other options include using Memorial Day or days allotted for spring break.

The employee cost for working on a Saturday is less than $19,000, which is a high estimate, according to Sterling Ming, finance director.

A recent thread on the district’s Facebook site generated more than 100 comments about using Saturday as makeup days. Many of the comments were against the idea.

The Springdale School District already has committed to having school Saturday, March 8, to make up one of the 10 days it has missed.

Bentonville’s 11 snow days this school year matches the number it had the previous three years combined.

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