GENTRY -- At the request of the Personnel Policy Committee, school board members okayed allowing the PPC to examine the current district schedule and come up with a proposal to enable the district to make up days lost due to the snow and ice storm on Dec. 12 and 13.

Gentry schools were closed for seven days as a result of the storm and the district calendar had only five built-in snow days.

The current calendar would make up the sixth missed day by converting Memorial Day into a student day. Other days would be made up by taking away from the scheduled spring break, beginning with the first day of the break. Good Friday is also a day which could be used as a makeup day.

Because of family vacations already scheduled on calendar days off, the PPC will look at options for the district to hold the required number of school days and yet preserve some of the scheduled days off.

The PPC recommendation is expected to be taken up at the January school board meeting on Jan. 20.

The board approved the use of Alternative Learning Experiences as a comprehensive educational and treatment service for high school students with substance abuse or other abuse issues. The approval makes the ALEX service available for the district to use on an as-needed basis.

The board granted five student transfers -- three to Siloam Springs and two to Gentry from Siloam Springs.

Coye Cripps, board member, encouraged parents and community members with complaints or questions to attend board meetings and bring items before the board rather than posting complaints and negative comments on social media which only serve to damage the image of the schools and the community and don't address the issues.