To make up for instructional time lost during the January snow days, the March 10 teacher in-service day will be turned into a virtual learning day for students.

The state requires students to have 63,720 instructional minutes a year. Calcasieu Parish Schools Superintendent Jason VanMetre said that the weather day has the district about two days behind.

Virtual instruction days look different for every school. Students can complete their school work online, or through packets or projects. Teachers are still required to show up for in-service.

The amount of daily instructional minutes will also increase from 380 to 385 for the rest of the school year as well. He said this increase should not affect the start and end times of the school day. While most CPSB campuses adhere to a 385-minute school day, those that don’t should be able to meet the requirement by adjusting transition times between classes. The adjustment will primarily affect middle and high schools, he said.

Board Member Eric Tarver, District 8,  said he was a “hard no” for the virtual learning day, calling them “the greatest travesty” that has been imposed on the public.

“I think we should be in school. I understand what you’re trying to do, make it easy on everybody, but I’m not interested in making it easy on everybody. I’m interested in having them get in school.”

“Let’s not pretend it’s a real day,” he said later.

He made a substitution motion that instruction be conducted in person on March 10. The motion failed with a split vote of 7-7. Board Members Shawn Baumgarten, District 15; Glenda Gay, District 3; Karen Hardy McReynolds, District 2; Tony O’Banion, District 10; Patrick Pichon, District 5; Desmond Wallace, District 14; Betty Washington, District 7, voted in opposition to the amendment.

The original motion passed with a vote of nine to five. Board Members Billy Breaux, District 13; Gay; McReynolds; Dean Roberts, District 6; and Eric Tarver, District 8, voted in opposition to the virtual learning day.

Board Member Russell Castille, District 12, was not present for the meeting.