In a special called meeting Friday, the Georgia Board of Education approved a waiver request from the Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education, among other business, for instructional time missed on April 28, when schools in the county were closed as a result of the tornado.

“These schools and communities have been struck by a terrible tragedy,” said State School Superintendent John Barge in a press release. “While we cannot replace the lives that were lost or undo the damage that was done, we can provide the flexibility they need to help facilitate rebuilding and recovery. The families and communities affected by this tragedy are in our prayers. We hope (Friday’s) action will make this recovery process a little easier for them.”

The local Board of Education had originally considered adding 15 minutes to the beginning of the school day until the end of the school year to make up for the missed school day. When it was made aware of the special called state board meeting, it decided to apply for a waiver instead.

The rationale for that decision was that there would have been enough school days left to make up for the one instructional day missed if the state board had not approved the waiver request.

State rules allow school districts to miss up to four days due to emergency closures. The Griffin-Spalding County School System had used two of those as work adjustment days. Another three school days were missed during an ice storm in January. With being one day over the limit, the school system decided to add an instructional day to the end of the school year on May 26.

The most recent school closing following the tornado came at the request of law enforcement and emergency services, said Superintendent Curtis Jones in a news release.