The Maries R-2 Board of Education discussed on Nov. 19 if Mondays were optional bad weather make-up days, because it has been off-limits in the past.

Since the district operates on a four-day week, make-up days after the first 60 built in hours often go into late May. Board President Joey Butler II asked why those make-up days, including the built-in 60 hours, couldn’t be scheduled on Mondays.

“I was just wondering if we set that, or if it was just something the superintendents took upon themselves to say ‘hey, we are not ever going to use Mondays,’” he asked.

Hicks said she thinks it is in the teachers’ contracts that they only do the four days a week.

“It would put your aids and that into overtime,” Hicks said. “How do you compensate for that?”

Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham said that was correct. Tom Kinsey asked why they couldn’t get around that?

“But your non-essential employees, instead of working a 10 or 12 hour days, they could work eight hour days that week if we have to go on a Monday,” Kinsey said.

Basham said they don’t really have non-essential employees.

“If we are in school, then we need the paras there, the custodians need to be there — we may be able to work out a plan —,” Basham said.

Sanders asked if they could have a plan — like if they miss more than three days, they could use Mondays for make-up days?

Basham said they already have 60 hours built into the calendar for make-up days, which is required by state law. So they are talking about next year’s calendar.

“So if we already have 60 hours, could we go, if it is over 60 hours, that we might be able to use a Monday?” Hicks asked.

Basham suggested sending a survey to parents to ask if they would like to use Mondays after the built-in make-up days are used. Butler said he would do the built in hours on Mondays.

The board agreed to revisit the discussion next month.