GRAVETTE -- With more than five snow days built into the 2013-14 school year already expended, area school administrators and school boards are scratching their heads on how to adjust their respective school calendars.

The Gravette school reached its five-day limit during the recent heavy snow and was back on track when classes were able to resume last Thursday. Buses ran on limited routes and attendance exceeded expectations. In areas where buses could not navigate, parents either brought their students to a collection point or directly to school. Most area schools also resumed classes, but Mom Nature threw another curve when rural roads, crusted with ice from the seven-inch snow of the previous week, worsened during rain that began Thursday night.

Classes were cancelled Friday, which is a day that will need to be made up.

Gravette superintendent Richard Page said the Gravette district will retain its schedule for the remainder of the first semester which ends Dec. 20 when Christmas break begins. Classes will resume January 6 as previously scheduled.

Page said that end of first semester testing is expected to be completed this week. "Teachers have been preparing and the testing will proceed as scheduled."

Other school activities for all grade levels planned for first semester have been, or will be, rescheduled or altered as weather determines. This includes Gravette basketball homecoming, planned for Dec. 13. It has been rescheduled for January 10.

Page told the Eagle Observer last Thursday the district Personnel Policy Committee will be meeting to formulate a recommendation for addressing the Friday and other snow dates that may occur. After a consensus is reached, the school board will make the final determination on how end of school events will be scheduled.

At the present time, graduation date, May 17, is unchanged. And the June 2 end of school date is still in effect. The lost day, Friday, may be made up during the ensuing four months.

The recent early December snow was not typical and, since most weather-lost days occur in January and February, final determination of the school calendar cannot be predicted. According to the Arkansas Dept. of Education, districts are required to be in session 178 calendar days. Exceptions from that number are not likely to be granted, according to the Department's former actions.