A heavy snowstorm in December is only the most recent cause for cancellations for Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools, which lost eight days to bad weather by mid-December this school year. And while the kids might be thrilled, planning make-up days has been a headache for adults; a headache made worse by restrictions from the North Carolina General Assembly that limit the planning options of local school boards.
Last week, the Board of Education for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools passed a resolution asking the General Assembly to give them more flexibility for planning school days.
Superintendent Dr. Pam Baldwin said they had been asking for flexibility from state legislators for years.
“We’ve also have asked our sister district, Orange County Schools, as well as the Board of Commissioners to adopt a similar resolution so we can lock arms and try to get some change in what we think is good for our students,” Dr. Baldwin said.
In 2004, the General Assembly passed a school calendar law that set out a series of requirements all North Carolina school must follow when planning school days. The calendar law was lobbied in the General Assembly by the tourism and travel industry, according to a 2017 WUNC report.
“As we all know, we have been asking for the last 11 years for some flexibility on our calendar from the North Carolina General Assembly,” Baldwin said. “This is a resolution we are proposing in draft form for the board to adopt.”
The resolution noted that major hurricanes and severe winter snow storms have caused the CHCCS district to miss 16 school days over the past three years.
But making plans for incremental weather was only one of the reasons given by the board as a reason for wanting more flexibility with the school calendar.
The resolution adopted last week also notes that current scheduling requirements, “essentially requires high school students to take first semester exams after the winter break, which negatively impacts test scores.”
The current calendar also gives less time to students to study for Advanced Placement exams and makes it harder for high school students and recent winter graduates to take courses at nearby colleges or universities during the second semester of their senior years.
The resolution will now be sent to the school board’s legislative delegation. While the General Assembly is back in session, it is unclear if this local school flexibility will be a taken up soon.
Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Resident Vickie Fornville Announces Bid for CHCCS Board of EducationChapel Hill resident Vickie Fornville has announced her entry into the crowded race for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. Fornville is a graduate of CHCCS and a former parent ambassador for McDougle Middle School. Fornville told Chapelboro she wants the community “to see someone who is running for the board because they […]
Educator Allison Willis Enters CHCCS Board of Education RaceEducator and Chapel Hill resident Allison Willis is entering the race for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. Willis is a former public school teacher and principal and current administrator whose children attend CHCCS. “I care deeply about our public schools,” Willis told Chapelboro. “And I understand the role they play in fostering […]
Juneteenth Holiday to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange CountyAcross the country on Friday, Black Americans and communities will celebrate Juneteenth — the national recognition of when the final slaves were freed in the 19th century and of African-American culture. As a holiday, government services around the Orange County community will be affected on June 19 and the surrounding days. Here’s what residents can […]
Local Government Meetings: June 15-19, 2026This week in local government: a proposed AI moratorium in Durham and a board appointment (maybe) in Chatham County.
CHCCS High Schools Win State Championships in Women's Lacrosse, Women's SoccerTwo local high schools each took home state championships last weekend. Chapel Hill High School took home the North Carolina 7A championship in women’s lacrosse, while Carrboro High won the 4A championship in women’s soccer. View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram Chapel Hill High won the women’s lacrosse title, its first […]
Garbage Collection, Local Transit and More: How Memorial Day Will Impact Local ServicesThe observation of Memorial Day Monday, May 25 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will be closed. Residential trash will not be collected on Monday, with the make-up day […]
NCDOT Warns of Traffic Delays as Pedestrian Work Continues on Highway 54The North Carolina Department of Transportation is cautioning motorists to be aware of potential traffic delays along North Carolina Highway 54. The delays come as the NCDOT works with a contractor to install pedestrian infrastructure at three key intersections along the highway. As was first reported in January, crosswalks with traffic signals will be installed […]
Local Municipal Offices to Close for Observance of Good FridayLocal government offices and services around the community will be closed to observe Good Friday on April 3. Here’s a rundown of what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill The Town of Chapel Hill’s government offices will be closed Friday, and some facilities will also be closed Easter Sunday, April 5. Residential trash collection […]
‘Mind Your Business’: Local Openings, Closings and Updates in January-March 2026The start of 2026 featured some early closures, openings and plenty of returns to business in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and beyond.
Chapel Hill And Carrboro Hold Third No Kings Day, Joining Communities NationwideChapel Hill and Carrboro residents participated in the third No Kings Day on Saturday, Mar. 28, protesting President Donald Trump.
›
