NEW CUMBERLAND — As part of its plan to make up for cancelations and other issues earlier in the school year, the Hancock County Board of Education will be extending its instructional calendar.

During Monday’s school board meeting, members approved a proposal to add three instructional days at the end of the current school year, in addition to its previously agreed upon application to the West Virginia Board of Education for a waiver to forgive some of those out-of-school situations.

“The snow day issue has been an ongoing thing,” explained Superintendent Dan Enich.

While the board agreed on Feb. 24 to request the waiver, the additional days were added on to make certain Hancock County can reach its required 180 instructional days.

As part of the move, the previously scheduled Faculty Senate day on June 4, which would have been the final day for students and included a two-hour early dismissal, will now be a full day of instruction.

June 5 and June 6 also will be full instructional days for the school district, with the final day for students now set to be on June 9 with a Faculty Senate and two-hour early dismissal.

June 10 will be designated as the final day for teachers.

Under state law, each school districted is allocated up to five snow days and five remote learning days without having to adjust the school year calendar.

“We exceeded our five snow days and five remote days,” Enich said.

Hancock County officials have hoped the state would forgive some situations, such as those cancelations and remote days used as a result of threats against students and schools in the county in September, and the use of remote days for Weirton Elementary because of water issues in the city in early February.

Enich indicated he has been told similar appeals are being made by numerous county school boards in West Virginia, in particular because of a state of emergency issued by former governor Jim Justice in response to winter storms in December.

“It’s not my decision. It’s the state of West Virginia’s decision,” Enich said.