The Watauga County Board of Education will vote Monday on whether to make March 21-22 regular school days instead of the previously planned professional development days.

Watauga County Schools Superintendent David Kafitz will make the recommendation as a way to make up for some of the 15 school days missed so far due to winter weather and road conditions. Schools also have used eight, two-hour delays due to weather.

If the board approves the change, students' last day would be Monday, June 10, and a full week of spring break would remain from April 1-5. If approved, the two mandatory professional development days would be added to the end of the school year for all staff.

If additional school days are missed, the schools may:

-- Add up to two more student days to the end of the year;

-- Hold Saturday school March 16 or April 13;

-- Slash either April 5 or April 4 (or both) from spring break. April 1-3 will not be used as make-up days, according to the schools.

The school system sent a letter to parents Tuesday informing them of the possible change March 21-22.

"We understand and regret that this change in the school schedule will inconvenience families who may have made other plans for these two days," Kafitz wrote. "However, we believe that having students attend school on these days is the best choice to minimize the number of school days missed due to weather conditions and to reduce the chances of having to shorten spring break."

Any student unable to attend school March 21-22 due to prior arrangements may provide a note to the school explaining the reason.

"Schools will be able to use additional discretion in granting excused absences due to prior plans on these dates," the letter to parents states.