Clark County Schools will be in session Feb. 19 to make up for inclement weather days.

The Clark County Board of Education approved Tuesday night to use President’s Day as a make-up day for students.

According to Greg Hollon, director of pupil personnel and student support Services, Clark County students have had six inclement weather days in January. School was cancelled for inclement weather Jan. 5, 8, 12 and 16-18. School was also canceled Aug. 21 for the Great American Solar Eclipse.

Each year, the board builds five inclement weather days into the school calendar. Hollon said because school cancellations have exceeded that number, the board would need to use President’s Day as a make-up day or extend the school calendar from a May 25 closing day for students to May 29. The May 29 closing day falls the Tuesday after Memorial Day, Hollon said.

Board member Judy Hicks said she was not in favor of using President’s Day as a make-up because it should be set aside to honor historical figures much like other holidays are each year.

Board member Michael Kuduk said he wanted to look at the issue from an attendance perspective.

“If we opt to take President’s Day or May 29, we have to look at which of those days is going to have better attendance,” he said. “It think you will have more students on Feb. 19 than you will with a closing day on May 29.”

Board Chairman Scott Hisle agreed.

“I’m looking at it from an education perspective,” he said. “We’re going to get more education in on Feb. 19 than we will on a day in May after Memorial Day.”

Superintendent Paul Christy said he also thinks attendance would be affected by pushing closing day, but acknowledged the threat of more inclement weather is not out of the picture.

“This may all change again if we have more bad weather,” he said. “We may end up needing to push the end of the school year. We are not out of the window for inclement weather.”

Board member Ashley Ritchie said she often gets complaints from parents and teachers when President’s Day is used for a make-up day.

“If you take Feb. 19 from them, they don’t have any scheduled break again until spring break,” she said. “The students get worn out and it makes it hard on parents and teachers.”

The board approved with a 3-2 vote using Feb. 19 as a make-up day for students. Ritchie and Hicks cast the dissenting vote.