LITTLE ROCK — The state Education Board is allowing two central Arkansas school districts to cut their academic year short by a week because of last week's tornado.
In its meeting Thursday, the board approved a five-day waiver for the Mayflower and Vilonia school districts to end their school year early. The state mandates that school districts are required to have at least 178 days of instruction. Education Department spokeswoman Kimberly Friedman says both school districts canceled five days of classes because of the tornado.
Both cities had been hit by the April 27 tornado that officials say killed 15 people. A newborn's death has also been attributed to the storm because of the mother's injuries.
