Five days off from school for snow and ice may have seemed like a good idea to Kershaw County students earlier this year.

But making up those days could mean Saturday classes, a shortened spring break or even having classes after seniors graduate from high school.

“None of these options are good,” said Superintendent Herbert Berg. “They all have a down side. But we’re obligated to educate the children for 180 days.”

The school board heard the options during its meeting Tuesday at Blaney Elementary School in Elgin. A fourth option being considered, if it is viable, is extending the school day by an hour for three weeks.

One of the snow days already has been made up and a second make-up date has been set, which leaves students with three extra days to make up – if the weather holds out.

“I have distant memories of snow storms on the first day of spring,” school board chairman Dana Morris said. “We’re not through the bad weather yet.”

If the district doesn’t miss any more days for bad weather, students will either have to attend school on three different Saturdays before the end of the year, lose three days of their spring break or go back to school for three days the week after high school graduation.

Charles Baxley has been a school board member for seven years.

“I don’t remember doing a Saturday (make-up day) but one time, and it was so immensely unpopular,” he said.

The only saving grace would be if the legislature passes a law waiving the snow days. Board member Gene Stokes suggested asking for special permission so students wouldn’t have to make up the days.

Board member Jim Smith suggested looking at bus routes to see if there are alternatives when the weather is bad in only one small part of the county, which is what happened last week.

“There are some of you who live in Elgin and Lugoff who don’t believe we should have canceled school last Friday,” Berg said.

Roads were fine in most of the county, but the northern part near Bethune and Liberty Hill was hit with snow and ice, board members said.

“There is a difference in the ends of the county,” Berg said. “And you have to operate your system as a system.”

Berg said he would look into the options. The administration is expected to make a recommendation to the board by its March 16 work session, with the board voting on one of the options by the end of the month, when the potential for bad weather has lessened, Morris said.

Reach Rupon at (803) 771-8622 or krupon@thestate.com.