Eureka Springs School District superintendent Bryan Pruitt is hoping Mother Nature is gentle this winter.
For the first time in many years, districts won’t be able to lean on alternate methods of instruction days, meaning more potential snow days — which in turn could lead to an extended school year.
AMI days, which were authorized by a 2017 state law, were popular among many districts during winter weather months and became well-known in every district during COVID-19. Last year, Eureka Springs had seven AMI days because of weather — which all counted toward the mandated 178-day school year. Not anymore.
When the state legislature passed the LEARNS Act, a $50,000 salary minimum was enacted for all teachers and districts across the state would receive state money to help support those raises. However, the LEARNS Act states that for districts to be eligible for funds to implement the salary increases “a public school district shall be open for on-site, in-person instruction for at least” 178 days or 1,068 hours.
“If you want the $50,000 then you have to have 178 face-toface days,” Pruitt said.
That means any days missed because of weather will have to be made up either during the year, or added on at the end of the year.
Pruitt said the change is going to force him to make harder decisions when it comes to making the call to canceling class or not.
“AMI gave us a bit of a relief where I knew I didn’t have to be so chancy when I made a decision on whether we’re going to go or not,” Pruitt said. “Now, it’s going to make me second guess myself more. Safety will always come first but it makes our decision very difficult in the north part of the state. Here in the hills we have shaded roads that get slick and we don’t want a bus sliding down a ravine. At the end of the day we’re always going to go safety first.
“I’ve let the staff know if there’s a day we can go we’re going to go. If we don’t we’re going to have to go all summer. However, if the roads are impassable, or if it’s not safe, then I’m going to call it.”
