DeSoto County Schools: No make‑up days required after weeklong winter weather closure 

DeSoto County Schools will not be required to make up the five instructional days lost to this week’s winter storm, thanks to a proactive administrative leave plan approved before the severe weather arrived. 

Superintendent Cory Uselton said he recommended at the Jan. 21 school board meeting that all employees be placed on administrative leave in anticipation of potential weather-related disruptions. The DeSoto County School Board unanimously approved the measure, allowing the district to avoid adding make‑up days to the academic calendar despite the extended closure. 

Uselton said the decision allowed the district to focus fully on safety as icy roads and subfreezing temperatures impacted the county. 

With road conditions still hazardous and temperatures expected to remain below freezing, the district has not yet determined whether schools will reopen Monday. Uselton said a decision will be made Sunday afternoon, emphasizing that the safety of students, staff, and families remains the district’s top priority.